Forgotten World (222): Guinea-Bissau
Formerly Portuguese Guinea, Guinea-Bissau in west Africa won independence from Portugal in 1974 after a long struggle spearheaded by the left-wing African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC).
Once hailed as a potential model for African development, Guinea-Bissau – a nation of a mere 1.6 million – is now one of the poorest countries in the world. It has a massive foreign debt and an economy which relies heavily on foreign aid. The country’s vital cashew nut crop provides a modest living for most of Guinea-Bissau’s farmers and is the main source of foreign exchange.