Guinea Bissau and Latin American Drug Trade

Guinea Bissau; a small country in western Africa, south of Senegal, with a large coast line, and a mere 1.5 million people, has become very well connected with Latin America through global drug trade. The Centre for Democracy and Development is describing the situation as "ethno-drug gang wars in the narco-state of Guinea Bissua."

"In November 2008, President Nino Vieira and General Batista Tagme Nawai were assassinated by warring camps of the army. Indeed, assassinations in the army and political camps have occurred in 1993, 1998, 200, 2005, and 2007. The killings were related turf battles within the army for control of the growing cocaine trade with Latin America for onward shipment in Europe.

"Attempts by the Economic Community of West African States to carry out security sector reforms in Guinea Bissau to discipline the army have so far not yielded fruit. The growing level of circulation of small arms emanating from the drug barons of Guinea Bissau is therefore a potential trigger to larger armed conflicts in the region."

Implications from Institute for the Future:

The buzz around South-South cooperation and growth is palpable throughout economic and financial sectors, activist and social justice circles, policy and government entities - but rarely do we discus the darker side of south-south interactions.

Additionally, it should be of great concern the far reaching negative effects of global drug trade. It moves beyond Colombia, Mexico, and the other Latin American states that we are used to hearing about.