Guinea Bissau
by planetparker
The republic of Guinea-Bissau is one of Africa’s smallest countries, counched between Senegal to its north and Guinea to the south. Its one-and-a-half million people are also amongst the world’s poorest. When God was dealing out cards to countries he gave Guinea-Bissau a really rotten hand. Nevertheless its people fought a violent independence war for over a decade against the Portuguese, which resulted in Independence in 1974. This struggle joined the liberation movement in Guinea-Bissau with that in the other Portuguese colony of West Africa, the Cape Verde Islands, which gained independence at the same time. It was intended that both countries should eventually unite, but after a military coup in Guinea-Bissau in 1980 the two countries went their separate ways. The Cape Verde Islands are among Africa’s most stable nations, and in the past few years properties there have attracted well-heeled investors from Ireland. In contract Guinea-Bissau’s history since 1980 has been marred by military dictatorship, coups, mutinies and three civil wars.
The country is not resource-rich by traditional economic factor; its exports are largely agricultural. But recently it has been shown that geographical location can make up for a dearth of national riches.
The country lies about half-way between Latin America and Europe. Its infrastructure is basic to say the least, manned by dirt-poor officials who are easily bribed. As a result it has become an important staging post for the transhipment of Latin American cocaine into Europe. Those who might wish to stop this in the country find that they are stymied by lack of resources. One of those charged with fighting illegal narcotics doesn’t even have a telephone in his office, while those who are more vocal in their opposition to what is going on find themselves victimised by members of the military who are on the drug-shippers’ payroll, and are often forced into hiding.
Over a year ago a leading UN anti-narcotics official said that Guinea-Bissau was in danger of becoming a narco-state. Its ruling elite can easily be persuaded to turn the other cheek with offers of cash and weapons. The country’s president, Nino Vieira, won a surprise victory in 2005 amid claims of intimidation and massive imports of arms for his supporters.
Recently, though, a large consignment of narcotics was seized at the country’s sole international airport. Interestingly, the airport’s chief executive was arrested, while the plane was only seized after a gun battle between police and the military, who were keen to protect the plane, its contents and its crew.
In the era of globalisation when traditional resource endowments are less important than possession of advantantages such as geographical location, it is a pity that Guinea-Bissau cannot find a more worthy economic niche than supplying an airport for use by drug-traffickers whose bribes only enrich a small number of local people.
Of course, it can also be said that cocaine trafficking is but a response to demand for the drug, and that it will only stop when those over-paid professionals in the developed world learn to grow up and kick the habit.
