Guinea-Bissau

The struggle

Amílcar Cabral's PAIGC built liberation from the ground up, organising farmers, running schools and clinics in liberated zones and fighting an eleven-year war from 1963. Cabral was assassinated in January 1973; the party declared independence unilaterally that September and was recognised by most of the world. Portugal recognised it on 10 September 1974 after the Carnation Revolution in Lisbon.

One date, a longer story: Declared 24 September 1973; recognised by Portugal on 10 September 1974.

Key people

• Amílcar Cabral

  1924–1973

  Founded the PAIGC and its theory of liberation; assassinated in 1973

• Luís Cabral

  1931–2009

  First president of independent Guinea-Bissau

• Titina Silá

  1943–1973

  PAIGC commander killed on her way to Cabral's funeral