A Portuguese colony from about 1440 until 1974 when the Portuguese left after a long guerrilla war and a revolution in Portugal.

The country is a swampy river delta. Many different peoples live there including Balante and Fulani, Malinke, Mandyako, assimilados (detribalized Portuguese speaking Africans), Mestizos (mixed Afro-Europeans). The Portuguese brought slaves from here to the Cape Verde Islands.

The Portuguese colony was defined in treaties with other Europeans from 1870 (British), 1886, 1902, 1905 (French).

It became independent with Cape Verde in 1974. But the two ceased to be associated informally when Luis Cabral the brother of the founder (Amilcar Cabral) of the party in both states was overthrown in 1980. There were elections in 1984.

There were disputes with Guinea in the time of Sekou Toure over possible offshore oil. But no oil was found at that time.

African languages of Niger-Congo family

West Atlantic group:

Nalu

Baga

Mande

Susu

Portuguese

In 1991 was said to be moving towards a multi-party system but the first election only in July 1994.

In 2001 there was a civil war between different contenders for the presidency.

The country can be considered a "failed state".

In March 2009 the president and the head of the army were both killed, possibly during an attempted military coup.

An apparernt military takeover has occurred 12 April 2012.

Extremely poor as there is almost no legitimate economy. Oil was looked for but not found. Some offshore oil has now been found (2007)

Since 2005 the illegal importation and export of Cocaine from Colombia has become the main business. Here is a BBC report on the consequences.

Could be considered as a site for OTEC energy production.

As temperatures rise, this area may experience flooding from more intense rains.