Introduction

Guinea-Bissau is a small country in the Western part of Africa. It borders the Republic of Senegal in the North and the Republic of Guinea in the South. It is also made up of islands of Cape Verde, a few miles off the West African Coast in the Atlantic Ocean.

Guinea-Bissau covers a total area of 36,125 sq. Km, a population of 1.1 million people (1999). The capital city is Bissau.

When the Portuguese came, people who were living in Guinea-Bissau were the Balante, Fulani, the Mandingo and the Malinke. During Portuguese rule, there came a small population of Mesticos-people of mixed white and black descent. The country's black population was classified into indigenous (the majority Africans population regarded by the Portuguese as uneducated and "uncivilized"), assimilados (educated Africa in same class as Europeans).

The Portuguese rulers ensured that only a very small fraction of the Africans received any reasonable education. Portuguese used to administer this territory and Cape Verde (some 700 km) away in the Atlantic Ocean as one administrative unit.

The liberation war in Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde was led by the Partido Africano Independancia da Guinea e Cabo Verde (PAIGC) or African Independence Party of Guinea and Cape Verde. Amilcar Cabral founded PAIGC in September 1954.

Amilcar Cabral was a Lisbon trained agricultural expert who was one of the assimilados. He was bom in Cape Verde in 1924. During the period 1952-4, he worked in Guinea-Bissau as an ad hoc-director of agricultural census in the entire Portuguese Africa. Since the Portuguese had not settled in the territory, the ordinary citizens could not see the purpose of fighting for independence.                            

After a thorough analysis, Amilcar identified a petty middle class of Africans businessmen and teachers as the revolutionary force. Unlike in other Portuguese Colonies, in Guinea people were not sent away from their land and there were very few Portuguese settlers.

The people of Guinea were highly exploited by the Portuguese; there was poverty and general suffering. Amilcar Cabral discovered this as moved widely in the country while working as an agricultural extension worker for the colonial administration.

The PAIGC started its resistance 'in 1959. They encouraged dockworkers at the port of Bissau to go on strike. The Portuguese reacted harshly by killing about 50 workers and many others tortured and detained. This incident made Amilcar Cabrat to wage a serious guerilla war against the Portuguese. He afso wanted to form a strong socialist state.

PAIGC went underground in 1960 without firearms and financial support. They were just determined to fight the Portuguese. Training of the cadres started in Conakry the capital city of Guinea republic. This was because President Sekou Toure of Guinea supported PAIGC.

The real war of liberation started in 1963. They used the guerilla tactics of fighting from the countryside. Methods such as hit and run, ambush use of landmines surprise attacks were commonly used in the war.

The well calculated armed struggle was started in two fronts: in the north and south of the country and was supported by Communist countries who provided the guerillas with arms.

The country had an ideal terrain for guerilla a thick rain forest and mangrove swamps.

!n 1969 it defeated the Portuguese in many battles. Large areas were captured from the Portuguese, By 1973, PAIGC had liberated most of the land from the Portuguese. PAIGC grew stronger and inflicted heavy losses to the Portuguese forces. They decided to handover guinea and Cape Verde to PAEGC.

Finally, in September 10th -1974 Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde became independent.

One factor, which facilitated Guinea's independence, was the Lisbon coup, which led to the tali of the ruling government in Portugal. The government, which replaced it, was not in favour of colonies. Another reason was that Portugal was fighting three wars in African countries at the same time Wars in Angola, Guinea-Bissau and Mozambique took place at the same period. In 1974, Portugal withdrew its forces from Guinea.

The Portuguese agents in Conakry assassinated Amilcar Cabral the founder of PAIGC. His brother Louis Cabral replaced him.

CAUSES OF THE WAR

Need for independence: The need to do away with Portuguese colonial rule. People of Guinea-Bissau and Caps Verde were to liberate themselves from foreign rule and attain independence.

Dignity: The need to restore their dignity. The foreign rule had reduced this and they were no longer self-determining. Moreover, the Chefe de Posto's frequently abused their offices due to lust, spite and corruption.

Democracy: The need to regain their democratic, fundamental arrogance and discrimination. The people had no reprssentativos and were totally ruled by foreigners.

This forced people to turn against the Portuguese.

End poverty: The war was also made inevitable by the poverty and economic backwardness in the colony. The Portuguese were not bothered about developing Guinea-Bissau.

Exploitation; Portuguese exploitation had become unbearable for instance, people were paid very little for their cash crops and yet the imported finished products were so highly priced.

Torture: The need to end the torture that was inflicted on the people by the Portuguese police (PIDE) and armed troops, people were whipped and others massacred, for example, the Bissau Massacres of 1952 of 3rd August 1958 of African dock workers who had gone on a strike. Also many nationalists died in the hands of the PIDE who

included Jooa Rossa Antonio Teixera, Jooa Aranjoo. Those who were lucky were imprisoned and others deported and confined on concentration camps on the Galinhas Islands.

Insecurity. The need to end insecurity and killings by the Portuguese troops. These troops tortured and harassed villagers in search of nationalists using heavy machine guns, mortars and at times bombs destroyed villages hence lack of peace and security,

Need for development. The need by the people of Guinea-Bissau to effect progress and development of their country. The Portuguese ignored the development of education and health facilities in the country.

Foreign Assistance: The assurance of foreign assistance from Guinea under Sekou Toure both for guerilla bases and material support. The possibility of getting assistance from Soviet Union and China inspired Guinea-Bissau to rise up in arms.

Good leadership: The good leadership provided by Amilcar Cabral also inspired the people to use up in defence for the fundamental rights and freedom as well as self government.

Trade: This was monopolized by the Portuguese in all aspects. The major traders who wore making profits were the Portuguese. Blacks were not allowed to open up wholesale and retail shops.

Low development; The Portuguese did nothing to develop the economy of Guinea" Bissau. The standard of living for Africans was low compared to the Whites.

Forced Consumption: The Portuguese forced the focal people to consume only commodities made from their home country. Some of the goods were of lower quality.

Forced labour that was demanded by t he Portuguese.

Course of the War

PAIGC as a party was formed in 1954: Et started with peaceful discussion and imparting Marxist Ideas, opened bases in the country, framing its fighters in tactics of guerilla warfare and use weapons got from USSR and China.

The war started in 1963 with fronts opened up in the north and the south. Guinea became a hot combat zone with serious fighting taking place between blacks and whites. PAIGC scored major victories in 1969 in many Portuguese centres were captured. There was real fighting by the Guineans.

They forced the Portuguese out of the whole country by 1973.    It was on 24th September 1973 that the PAIGC declared Guinea an independent country.

This was followed in September 1974 by formal handing over of Guinea and Cape Verde to PAIGC.

This was facilitated by the Lisbon group of April 1974, which ousted Antonio Salazar from power. The new government of Portugal accepted changes in the colonies.

REASONS FOR THE SUCCESSES OF PAIGC

The ability and personality of Amilcar Cabral. He was a revolutionary thinker who had started the struggle after concretely understanding the conditions and situations of Guinea's unique characteristics other than merely copying from other examples.

The support assistance from the friendly and liberation movements. These included the neighbouring Republic of Guinea and Senegal, Cuba, the Soviet Union as well as FRELIMO (Mozambique), MPLA (Angola).

The willingness and support from the Guineas people. They were cooperative, were mobilized, trained and prepared into cadres and armed with traditional and modern weapons. They were inspired into the spirit of national liberation.

The unity of PAIGC party to do away with tribalism.   In the army ranks and administration, different ethnic groups were recruited hence reduction of ethnic conflicts as it happened between the Fula and the Balante.

They were favoured by the Mangrove swamps, Equatorial forests and the Coastal belt.

Organization in the liberated zones. Here peace prevailed and people grew crops, which they exchanged for firearms. Education and health facilities were established-

The women and refugees. Were recruited into guerilla troops and played a major role.

The high-level organization, planning, mobilization and participation of the entire population.

'The inefficient armed Portuguese troops. Though heavily armed, with very powerful weapons, they employed reluctant African conscripts who betrayed them. They also lacked guerilla tactics.

The above factors combined to lead to acquisition of independence for Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde in 1973. It is unfortunate that Amilcar Cabral who sacrificed his time for the struggle could not see the fruits his struggle. He was assassinated in 1973 in Conakry where PAIGC had its headquarters.

the forced conscription of African boys into the Portuguese army to fight fellow Africans.

The OAU used the liberation committee to support PAIGC to liberate Guinea-Bissau.

The Lisbon coup of 25 April 1974 disorganized the Portuguese to a great extent.

The alliance of PASGC, MPLA and FRELIMO.

THE ROLE OF PAIGC IN THE LIBERATION OF GUINEA BISSAU

Made Guinea-Bissau to acquire independence through armed struggle.

Solicited for support from the working class in towns.

Convinced and mobilized, the peasants to support their cause through military means.

Convinced foreign countries to provide assistance in form of firearms. These came from China, Soviet Union, Cuba, among others.

Promoted unity among the people.

Educated its men in Marxist politics, economics and revolutionary ideas.

Made good use the terrain, swamps tropical forests to defeat Portuguese.

Carefully trained its fighters into formidable guerilla force.

Provided able-bodied leadership under Amilcar Cabral.

Formally received Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde from the Portuguese.

CONSEQUENCES OF THE WAR

Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde achieved independence in 1974.

Peace prevailed,.as there was no fear of PIDE's activities.

The war brought about unity in the country.

Economy improved as people engaged in both cash and food crop production.

Creation of employment opportunities for the Africans in high offices.

Brought to an end the exploitation, oppression and suppression by the Portuguese.

There was massive destruction of property and the infrastructure.

Education was immediately expanded from 50 schools in 1966 to 130 schools by independence time.

Centralized democratic system of government was introduced with local assemblies elected by people.

The war brought about international cooperation between Guinea Bissau and other countries like Cuba, China, USSR, among others.

The war claimed many lives including Amilcar Cabral himself.

Hospitals were established in different parts of the country and even more services provided.

No heavy taxation.

During the war, women were recruited in the army to fight and after the war they were appointed in different offices hence women emancipation.