Occupying 36,120 square kilometers (13,950 square miles), about three times the size of the U.S. state of Connecticut, the Republic of Guinea-Bissau is bounded on the south by the Republic of Guinea and on the north by Senegal. Its population was estimated in July 2004 at 1,388,363.

Historically known for its powerful kingdoms and as a major entry point of explorers, missionaries, and traders, Guinea-Bissau was colonized by the Portuguese in 1879. The campaign for independence began in the 1950s under the leadership of Amilcar Cabral (1924–1973) and the African Party of Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde. After more than a decade of armed struggle this small West African country gained its independence on September 10, 1974. For the first six years of independence Guinea-Bissau was led by Amilcar Cabral's half-brother, Luis de Almeida Cabral (b. 1931). In 1980 then-vice president Joao "Nino" Vieira (b. 1939) led a successful coup against Cabral, thus terminating any plans for...