Published: December 20, 2024
This report is intended to supplement the U.S. Department of State Guinea-Bissau Travel Advisory and Guinea-Bissau Country Information Page.
Embassy & Consulate Contact Information
The U.S. Liaison Office in Bissau (BLO) employs local personnel. The BLO can provide limited services to U.S. citizens in an emergency and provides no consular services.
U.S. Bissau Liaison Office: Edifício SITEC, Rua José Carlos Schwarz, 245, Bairro d’Ajuda, Bissau. Tel: +1-202-536-5898. Hours of Operation: 0800-1730, Monday-Friday.
Coordinate all security and consular services through the U.S. Embassy Dakar. Tel: +221-33-879-4000. Hours of Operation: 0800-1700 Monday-Thursday; 0800-1300 Friday.
OSAC Country Chapter(s)
There is no formal OSAC Country Chapter in Bissau. Interested organizations are welcome to join the Dakar Country Chapter, which also covers U.S. private-sector interests in Guinea-Bissau, to discuss regional security concerns.
Contact OSAC’s Africa team with any questions.
Guinea-Bissau Travel Advisory
The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication assesses that travelers should reconsider travel to Guinea-Bissau due to civil unrest and exercise increased caution due to crime.
Crime
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Bissau as being a HIGH-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has included a Crime “C” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Guinea-Bissau, indicating that there may be widespread violent crime and/or organized crime present in the country, and/or that local law enforcement may have limited ability to respond to serious crimes.
Non-violent crimes occur frequently. Law enforcement lacks the resources to respond effectively to crime. Criminals in Guinea-Bissau target foreigners for crimes of opportunity (e.g., petty theft, pickpocketing, theft from vehicles, minor assaults). Street criminals, aggressive vendors, and panhandlers frequently target foreigners in crowded areas and markets (particularly the popular Bandim Market) and travelers exiting the Bissau airport (OXB). In particular, low-level criminal activity occurs in crowded areas. Criminals may take advantage of foreigners attempting to navigate through crowded markets. Local police lack the resources to respond quickly to serious criminal incidents.
The risk of being targeted by criminal actors greatly increases at night due to Guinea-Bissau`s limited security infrastructure and lack of street and building lighting. Visitors are strongly discouraged from walking after dark, especially alone or in isolated areas. Even during daylight hours and in groups, travelers are advised to maintain a heightened level of security awareness, particularly in public places, tourist areas, and crowded locations.
Independent vendors and panhandlers solicit from foreigners as they exit the Bissau airport, and there remains a possibility of street criminals approaching foreigners in the airport parking lot. The risk of crime greatly increases at night due to poor security infrastructure and lack of street and building lighting. Visitors practicing good security habits and maintaining a good level of security awareness will significantly reduce their exposure to criminal risks. Note that political demonstrations, festivals, and street celebrations are common, and pedestrian traffic can occupy entire thoroughfares, attracting pickpockets.
Corruption exists at all levels of government. Police and emergency personnel are poorly trained and lack resources to respond to crime and emergency situations effectively. Even if the police do respond to an incident, they usually lack the training and experience to conduct a proper investigation.
According to law enforcement officials, the Mindara and Reno neighborhoods, along with the Bandim Market and port in Central Bissau are areas in which to take particular caution. Travelers are encouraged to avoid displays of wealth such as wearing expensive watches or jewelry.
Police and emergency services are greatly diminished in outlying areas. The government of Guinea-Bissau may not have firm control over the country’s porous borders where there is increased criminal activity.
Kidnapping Threat
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Kidnapping “K” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Guinea-Bissau.
The kidnapping threat in Guinea-Bissau is low, but there have been reported incidents of members of rival criminal organizations kidnapping each other. While there have been no known incidents of kidnapping for ransom over the prior year, foreign travelers may stand out in Guinea-Bissau due to disparities in wealth and pervasive poverty.
Terrorism
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Bissau as being a LOW-threat location for terrorism directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Terrorism “T” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Guinea-Bissau.
There is an ongoing regional threat of transnational terrorism in West Africa that could spill over into Guinea-Bissau. There have been specific security concerns in the poorly policed eastern areas of the country. Borders are porous throughout the country.
Political Violence and Civil Unrest
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Bissau as being a HIGH-threat location for political violence directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has included a Civil Unrest “U” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Guinea-Bissau, indicating that demonstrations, protests, and/or strikes occur frequently, and/or that local law enforcement may have limited ability to respond adequately. Civil unrest can develop quickly without prior notice, often interrupting logistics and services. Avoid demonstration activity, as even those planned to remain peaceful have the potential to turn violent.
Elections/Political Stability
The armed resistance by the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC) against the Senegalese government is the longest-running active (albeit low-intensity) separatist conflict in sub-Saharan Africa. MFDC rebels have used Guinea-Bissau as a sanctuary, but there is no armed conflict in areas abutting the border with Guinea-Bissau. Nevertheless, use caution when traveling in the northwestern region of Guinea-Bissau along the roads between Mpack, São Domingos, and Varela. Only travel during daylight hours and monitor the local security situation before travel.
On February 1, 2023, armed assailants attacked the central government administrative center and took President Sissoco and some members of his cabinet hostage for several hours. Eleven people were killed during the attack, and while some alleged perpetrators were reportedly incarcerated and awaiting trial.
Four months following the attack, Guinea-Bissau held peaceful legislative elections. An opposition coalition won an outright majority of parliamentary seats, defeating the largest pro-government party and an almost two-to-one margin. The president accepted the results of the vote in a positive sign for the future of democracy in Guinea-Bissau.
Despite the peaceful 2023 legislative elections, Guinea-Bissau’s legacy of periodic political violence, such as that experienced in February 2023, means that travelers should monitor the current political situation before travel and be aware of the potential for political violence, particularly around elections.
On November 2, President Umaro Sissoco Embalo announced a postponement of legislative elections originally scheduled for November 24 without providing a later date. President Embalo cited structural issues facing the National Election Commission including limited technical and operational capacity. Embalo previously set the election date as November 24, after dissolving parliament in December 2023 in response to clashes between the National Guard and special forces of the presidential guard in Bissau.
Protests & Demonstrations
The government recognizes freedom of assembly/association and authorizes public demonstrations. Demonstrations typically begin/end in front of the Presidential Palace in Praça dos Heróis Nacionais or along Avenida de Combatentes. Most demonstrations are non-violent. However, police forces have attacked peaceful demonstrators, sometimes without warning or provocation. Avoid all public demonstrations. Note that demonstrations can pass by hotels foreigners frequent, sometimes temporarily cutting off street access to the hotels.
Anti-U.S./Anti-Western Sentiment
There is very little anti-U.S. or anti-Western sentiment in Guinea-Bissau. There are reports of extremist elements directing anti-Western comments at individuals they perceive to be from the West.
Law Enforcement
The police emergency line in Bissau is 117; the fire emergency line is 118. Do not depend on these numbers to be in service or result in assistance.
National police forces maintain internal security. The Public Order Police (POP), part of the Interior Ministry, has primary responsibility for responding to preventive patrols, crowd control, emergency incidents, and enforcing traffic laws. The Judicial Police within the Justice Ministry is responsible for major investigations (e.g., drug trafficking, terrorism). Historically, these two entities have been at odds and have fought and killed opposing agency officers. Other police forces include the State Information Service (intelligence), Border Police (migration and border enforcement), Rapid Intervention Police, and Maritime Police. The army is responsible for external security but also has some internal security responsibilities. The government may call upon the armed forces to assist police in emergencies.
Police Response
Corruption exists at all levels of government. Police and emergency personnel are poorly trained and lack resources to respond to crime and emergency situations effectively. Even if the police do respond to an incident, they usually lack the training and experience to conduct a proper investigation.
The international community is assisting Guinea-Bissau with developing judicial and law enforcement capabilities, but corruption continues to exist at all levels of government. Police and emergency personnel lack resources to respond to crime and emergency situations effectively. Even if the police do respond to an incident, they usually lack the training and experience to conduct a proper investigation. They also frequently use excessive force in their responses.
Guinea-Bissau has not signed the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, nor does the United States have an agreement with the government requiring notification to U.S. Embassy Dakar of arrests of U.S. citizens. U.S. citizen victims of bribery or crime, and those detained or arrested should use whatever means of communication available to alert U.S. Embassy Dakar or the Bissau Liaison Office of their situation. However, U.S. ability to assist is limited, as there is no U.S. embassy in Guinea-Bissau.
Travelers with Special Considerations
For specific traveler concerns in Guinea-Bissau, review the local laws and circumstances on the Department of State’s Country Information Page.
Rule of Law, Arbitrary Detention, Official Harassment, Corruption, & Transparency
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Risk of Wrongful Detention “D” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Guinea-Bissau.
There have been reports of official harassment, corruption, and lack of transparency, including instances against U.S. citizens. Corruption is widespread at all levels of government, and rule of law is not evenly applied. Bribery is common.
Cybersecurity
The government does not restrict or disrupt access to the internet or censor online content, and there are no credible reports that the government monitors online communications without appropriate legal authority.
Import/Export Restrictions
A country-specific listing of items/goods prohibited from being exported to the country or that are otherwise restricted is available from the U.S. International Trade Agency website.
Additional resources and reports can be found in the OSAC Traveler Toolkit.
