Government and Politics of Guinea-Bissau

Government Type

republic, multiparty since mid-1991

Administrative Divisions

9 regions (regioes, singular - regiao); Bafata, Biombo, Bissau, Bolama, Cacheu, Gabu, Oio, Quinara, Tombali; note - Bolama may have been renamed Bolama/Bijagos

Legal System

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship

Citizenship by birth: Yes Citizenship by descent only: Yes Dual citizenship recognized: No Residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Executive Branch

chief of state: President Umaro Sissoco EMBALO (since 27 February 2020, reelected for a second term in November 2023) head of government: Prime Minister Rui Duarte DE BARROS (since 20 December 2023) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held on 24 November 2019, with a runoff on 29 December 2019 (next election held in November 2023); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Umaro Sissoco EMBALO elected president in the December 2019 runoff; percent of vote - Umaro Sissoco EMBALO 53.6%, Domingos Simoes PEREIRA 46.4%; reelected in November 2023 with approximately 53% of the vote in the first round

Legislative Branch

unicameral National People's Assembly or Assembleia Nacional Popular (102 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 4 June 2023 (next to be held in 2027) election results: percent of vote by party - PAIGC 54.5%, Madem G15 28.9%, PRS 12.6%, other 4.0%; seats by party - PAIGC 54, Madem G15 29, PRS 12, other 7

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal da Justica (consists of nine justices appointed by the president and serve at his pleasure; final court of appeals in criminal and civil cases); Regional Courts (one in each of nine regions; first court of appeals for Sectoral Court decisions; hear all felony cases and civil cases valued at over $1,000); 24 Sectoral Courts (judges are not necessarily trained lawyers; they hear civil cases under $1,000 and misdemeanor criminal cases)

Political Parties

African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde or PAIGC [Carlos GOMES Junior]; Democratic Social Front or FDS [leader NA]; Electoral Union or UE [leader NA]; Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD [Victor MANDINGA]; Social Renovation Party or PRS [Alberto NAMBEIA]; Union for Change or UM [Jorge MANDINGA, president, Dr. Anne SAAD, secretary general]; United Platform or UP [coalition formed by PCD, FDS, FLING, and RGB-MB]; United Popular Alliance or APU [leader NA]; United Social Democratic Party or PUSD [Francisco Jose FADUL]

Head of State

President Umaro Sissoco EMBALO (since 27 February 2020, reelected for a second term in November 2023)

Head of Government

Prime Minister Rui Duarte DE BARROS

Elections

last held on 4 June 2023 (next to be held in 2027)

Election Results

Percent of vote by party - PAIGC 54.5%, Madem G15 28.9%, PRS 12.6%, other 4.0%; seats by party - PAIGC 54, Madem G15 29, PRS 12, other 7. These results reflect the March 2019 legislative elections, in which the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) secured a commanding majority in the 102-seat National People's Assembly, marking a significant consolidation of support for the long-dominant party amid a period of ongoing political instability in the country.

Constitution

16 May 1984, amended 4 May 1991, 4 December 1991, 26 February 1993, 9 June 1993, and 1996

Independence

24 September 1973 (unilaterally declared by Guinea-Bissau); 10 September 1974 (recognized by Portugal)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 24 September (1973)

International Organization Participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Henrique Adriano DA SILVA; note - his address is 15929 Yukon Lane, Rockville, MD 20855 mailing address: P. O. Box 33813, Washington, DC 20033 telephone: [1] (301) 947-3958 FAX: [1] (202) 347-3954

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

the US Embassy suspended operations on 14 June 1998 in the midst of violent conflict between forces loyal to then President VIEIRA and military-led junta; US Embassy Dakar is responsible for covering Guinea-Bissau: telephone - [221] 823-4296; FAX - [221] 822-5903

Capital City

Bissau

Location

11 51 N, 15 35 W

Time Difference

UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History

The meaning of Bissau is uncertain, it might be an alternative name for the Papel people who live in the area of the city of Bissau

U.S. Embassy Dakar Route des Almadies – B.P. 49 Dakar, Senegal Telephone: 221 33-879-4000 Emergency after-hours telephone: 221 33-879-4444 Regional Security Office: 221 33-879-4420 Facsimile: 221 33-879-4050

Military Branches

People's Revolutionary Armed Force (FARP): Army, Navy, National Air Force (Forca Aerea Nacional); Presidential Guard

Service Age and Obligation

18-25 years of age for selective compulsory military service (Air Force service is voluntary); 16 years of age or younger, with parental consent, for voluntary service