Office of the Historian
  1. Home
  2. Countries
  3. A Guide to the United States’ History of Recognition, Diplomatic, and Consular Relations, by Country, since 1776: Guinea-Bissau

A Guide to the United States’ History of Recognition, Diplomatic, and Consular Relations, by Country, since 1776: Guinea-Bissau

Summary

The United States recognized the Republic of Guinea-Bissau on September 10, 1974, when President Gerald R. Ford sent a letter to that effect to President of the Council of State Luis de Akmeida Cabral. The Embassy suspended operations in 1998; the U.S. Ambassador to Senegal has been accredited to Guinea-Bissau since 2003.

Modern Flag of Guinea-Bissau

Recognition

U.S. Recognition of Guinea-Bissau, 1974.

The United States recognized the Republic of Guinea-Bissau on September 10, 1974, when President Gerald R. Ford sent a letter to that effect to President of the Council of State Luis de Akmeida Cabral. Guinea-Bissau previously had been under Portuguese sovereignty.

Diplomatic Relations

Establishment of Diplomatic Relations, 1975.

Diplomatic relations were established on September 3, 1975, when Ambassador of Guinea-Bissau Gil Vicente Vaz Fernandes presented his credentials to President Gerald R. Ford.

Establishment of the American Embassy in Guinea-Bissau, 1976.

Embassy Bissau was established on June 30, 1976, with Dean Curran as Chargé d’Affaires ad interim.

Suspension of the U.S. Embassy in Guinea-Bissau, 1998.

Embassy Bissau suspended operations on June 14, 1998, following the start of civil war in Guinea-Bissau. The U.S. Ambassador to Senegal subsequently handled relations with Guinea-Bissau.

Accreditation of U.S. Ambassador, 2003.

The U.S. Ambassador to Senegal, Richard Allen Roth was accredited to Guinea-Bissau on February 13, 2003, when he presented his credentials to President Kumba Yala.

Resources