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Guinea-Bissau - US Relations

The United States is virtually the only great power that does not have an embassy in Guinea-Bissau. The U.S. Embassy suspended operations in Bissau on June 14, 1998, in the midst of violent conflict between forces loyal to then-President Vieira and the military-led junta. Prior to and following this action, the United States and Guinea-Bissau had enjoyed very good bilateral relations.

The US provided no direct economic or military assistance to Portuguese Guinea and since 1961 had prohibited the direct export to Portuguese African territories of US arms or military equipment supplied to Lisbon. Exxon Oil Company (Esso) was the only US business with a significant interest in the territory. Under a 25-year concession the firm invested over $16 million on offshore oil exploration, initially with negative results. Exxon leased some of its exploration rights to Texas Gulf Sulphur. US trade with Portuguese Guinea is negligible. There were very few US citizens resident in the province.

The U.S. recognized the independence of Guinea-Bissau on September 10, 1974. Guinea-Bissau's Ambassador to the United States and the United Nations was one of the first the new nation sent abroad. The United States opened an Embassy in Bissau in 1976, and the first U.S. Ambassador presented credentials later that year.

The U.S. Embassy in Bissau suspended operations on June 14, 1998. The United States Embassy suspended operations in the midst of heavy fighting in Bissau and all official personnel in the country were evacuated. There is no U.S. Embassy in Guinea-Bissau. All official U.S. contact with Guinea-Bissau is handled by the U.S. Embassy in Senegal. Local employees staff the U.S.Liaison Office in Bissau, and U.S. diplomats from the Embassy in Dakar travel frequently to Bissau. Although Guinea-Bissau has a mission to the United Nations in New York, it currently does not have an embassy in, or diplomatic accreditation to, Washington DC.

Establishing a permanent U.S. presence in Guinea-Bissau would provide unparalleled opportunities for project management, engaging locals on discussions of U.S. policies, promotion of human rights, and U.S.-style democracy. It would allow Post to provide clearer and more frequent reporting about politics, security, and regional concerns. However, moving the Guinea-Bissau Watcher position to Bissau would only be the first step toward re-opening the embassy. With full diplomatic and consular services restored the United States would enjoy the benefits of a grateful government: easy access to top leadership and openness to working toward and supporting U.S. goals on any number of issues.

U.S. assistance began in 1975 with a $1 million grant to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees for resettlement of refugees returning to Guinea-Bissau and for 25 training grants at African technical schools for Guinean students. Emergency food was a major element in U.S. assistance to Guinea-Bissau in the first years after independence. Since 1975, the U.S. has provided more than $65 million in grant aid and other assistance. After the 1998 war the United States provided over $800,000 for humanitarian demining to a non-governmental organization (NGO) which removed over 2,500 mines and 11,000 unexploded ordnance from the city of Bissau;. The United States currently is providing $20 million in food aid (primarily in school feeding programs for almost half of Guinea-Bissau’s children); $3 million for assisting refugees, supporting the cashew industry, and promoting democracy; $1.6 million for judicial reform and rule of law programs; and $1 million for demining and disposal of unexploded ordnance. The United States suspended over $120,000 in annual International Military Education and Training (IMET) funding and other military cooperation as a result of the April 1, 2010 mutiny by the Bissau-Guinean military leadership. The Peace Corps withdrew from Guinea-Bissau in 1998 at the start of the civil war.

In March 2007, the U.S. and Brazil signed a Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding with Guinea-Bissau highlighting a parliamentary strengthening project first implemented in 2005. In November 2008, the two countries also announced a Biofuels Partnership with Guinea-Bissau.

In 2010, the United States exported $4.33 million in mostly agricultureal products,electronics, machinery, transportation equipment to Guinea-Bissau. Some $885,000 in imports consisted of predominantly minerals and metals. Guinea-Bissau has not had much success in attracting foreign investment and has not yet taken advantage of its African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) membership to increase exports to the United States. AGOA eligibility remains an important symbol of U.S. engagement with this post-conflict state, and offers an incentive to encourage the government to enact market enhancements, continue security sector reform and economic development in key sectors, and institutionalize democratic advances.

. Following Vaz’s inauguration, the United States lifted restrictions on foreign assistance to Guinea-Bissau, which had been in place since shortly after the April 2012 coup. The United States’ top priorities in Guinea-Bissau are to promote security sector reform, combat drug trafficking, prevent an outbreak of Ebola and other infectious diseases, and implement multi-sector reforms, which would spur investment, sustainable development, and poverty reduction.

Guinea-Bissau is eligible for preferential trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). U.S. exports to Guinea-Bissau include agricultural products and machinery. The United States has a trade and investment framework agreement with the West African Economic and Monetary Union, of which Guinea-Bissau is a member.