Guinea-Bissau: Five decades of coups, crises and cartel influence

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Since independence from Portugal in 1974, Guinea-Bissau has faced chronic instability marked by four successful coups, multiple coup attempts and political violence, including the 2009 killing of President Nino Vieira. Recent clashes in 2023 and 2021 highlight ongoing turmoil. Poverty, corruption and pervasive drug trafficking have deepened the crisis, with the UN labelling Guinea-Bissau a 'narcostate' due to cartel infiltration across state institutions.