Guinea-Bissau - Government
Based on the etymolgy of Guinea-Bissau, it was the country is named after the Guinea region of West Africa that lies along the Gulf of Guinea and stretches north to the Sahel; "Bissau," the name of the capital city, distinguishes the country from neighboring Guinea. The Government system in this country is the semi-presidential republic type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 9 regions (regioes, singular - regiao); Bafata, Biombo, Bissau, Bolama/Bijagos, Cacheu, Gabu, Oio, Quinara, Tombali
National symbols

Black star; national colors: red, yellow, green, black.

The flag
The National flag of Guinea-Bissau has two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and green with a vertical red band on the hoist side; there is a black five-pointed star centered in the red band; yellow symbolizes the sun; green denotes hope; red represents blood shed during the struggle for independence; the black star stands for African unity.
The National Anthem
Title "Esta e a Nossa Patria Bem Amada" (This Is Our Beloved Country)
Lyric/music Amilcar Lopes CABRAL/XIAO He
More about the government of Guinea-Bissau
Date of Independence 24 September 1973 (declared); 10 September 1974 (from Portugal)
National holiday Independence Day, 24 September (1973)
Legal system mixed legal system of civil law, which incorporated Portuguese law at independence and influenced by Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), African Francophone Public Law, and customary law
International law organization participation accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; non-party state to the ICCt
Constitution
History Promulgated 16 May 1984; note - constitution suspended following military coup April 2012, restored 2014; note - in May 2020, President EMBALO established a commission to draft a revised constitution
Amendments Proposed by the National People’s Assembly if supported by at least one third of its members, by the Council of State (a presidential consultant body), or by the government; passage requires approval by at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly; constitutional articles on the republican and secular form of government and national sovereignty cannot be amended; amended 1991, 1993, 1996
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)
Head of government Prime Minister Rui Duarte DE BARROS (since 20 December 2023)
Cabinet Cabinet nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the president
Elections/appointments president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for up to 2 consecutive 5-year terms; election last held on 24 November 2019 with a runoff on 29 December 2019 (next to be held in 2024); prime minister appointed by the president after consultation with party leaders in the National People's Assembly; note - the president cannot apply for a third consecutive term; note - President EMBALO was declared winner of the 29 December 2019 runoff presidential election by the electoral commission; in late February 2020, EMBALO inaugurated himself with only military leadership present, even though the Supreme Court of Justice had yet to rule on an electoral litigation appeal lodged by his political rival Domingos Simoes PEREIRA
Election results
2019:
Umaro Sissoco EMBALO elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Domingos Simoes PEREIRA (PAIGC) 40.1%, Umaro Sissoco EMBALO (Madem G15) 27.7%, Nuno Gomez NABIAM (APU-PDGB) 13.2%, Jose Mario VAZ (independent) 12.4%, other 6.6%; percent of vote in second round - Umaro Sissoco EMBALO 53.6%, Domingos Simoes PEREIRA 46.5%

2014: Jose Mario VAZ elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Jose Mario VAZ (PAIGC) 41%, Nuno Gomez NABIAM (independent) 25.1%, other 33.9%; percent of vote in second round - Jose Mario VAZ 61.9%, Nuno Gomez NABIAM 38.1%  (2019)
Legislative branch
Description Unicameral National People's Assembly or Assembleia Nacional Popular (102 seats; 100 members directly elected in 27 multi-seat constituencies by closed party-list proportional representation vote and 2 elected in single-seat constituencies for citizens living abroad (Africa 1, Europe 1); all members serve 4-year terms)
Elections Last held on 4 June 2023 (next to be held on 30 June 2027); note - on 4 December 2023 the president dissolved the parliament with new elections to be held at a future date
Election results Percent of vote by party - PAIGC 39.4%, Madem G-15 21.1%, PRS 14.9%, other 12.5%; seats by party - PAIGC 54, Madem G-15 29, PRS- 12, other 7; composition - men 92, women 10, percentage women 9.8%
Judicial branch
Highest court(s) Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal de Justica (consists of 9 judges and organized into Civil, Criminal, and Social and Administrative Disputes Chambers); note - the Supreme Court has both appellate and constitutional jurisdiction
Judge selection and term of office Judges nominated by the Higher Council of the Magistrate, a major government organ responsible for judge appointments, dismissals, and judiciary discipline; judges appointed by the president for life
Subordinate courts Appeals Court; regional (first instance) courts; military court
Diplomatic representation in the US
Chief of mission Ambassador Maria Da Conceição NOBRE CABRAL (since 18 September 2024)
Chancery 918 16th Street, NW (Mezzanine Suite)
Washington DC 20006
Telephone [1] (202) 872-4222
FAX [1] (202) 872-4226
Diplomatic representation from the US
Chief of mission Ambassador Michael RAYNOR (since 20 April 2022)
Mailing address 2080 Bissau Place, Washington DC  20521-2080
Email address and website
[email protected]

https://gw.usmission.gov/
Key Political parties and their leaders in Guinea-Bissau
  • International organization participation
  • ACP
  • AfDB
  • AOSIS
  • AU
  • CPLP
  • ECOWAS
  • FAO
  • FZ
  • G-77
  • IBRD
  • ICAO
  • ICRM
  • IDA
  • IDB
  • IFAD
  • IFC
  • IFRCS
  • ILO
  • IMF
  • IMO
  • Interpol
  • IOC
  • IOM
  • IPU
  • ITSO
  • ITU
  • ITUC (NGOs)
  • MIGA
  • MINUSMA
  • NAM
  • OIC
  • OIF
  • OPCW
  • UN
  • UNCTAD
  • UNESCO
  • UNIDO
  • UNWTO
  • UPU
  • WADB (regional)
  • WAEMU
  • WCO
  • WFTU (NGOs)
  • WHO
  • WIPO
  • WMO
  • WTO
  • All Important Facts about Guinea-Bissau

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    Guinea-Bissau is found in Western Africa