Guinea-Bissau War of Independence

From 1963 to 1974 the PAIGC under Amilcar Cabral fought Portugal to near defeat in Guinea-Bissau, winning independence recognized after the Lisbon revolution.

Overview

Amilcar Cabral built the PAIGC into the best organized liberation army of the Portuguese colonial wars, opening hostilities in January 1963. By 1968 it controlled roughly two-thirds of the territory, running schools, courts, trade, and clinics in liberated zones and using Soviet anti-aircraft cannon to neutralize Portuguese airpower. Cabral was assassinated outside his Conakry home in January 1973 by Portuguese agents working with dissident PAIGC naval officers. That September a national assembly declared the independence of Guinea-Bissau, recognized by the UN General Assembly before Lisbon conceded anything. After the Carnation Revolution Portugal recognized independence in September 1974. Cabral writings on national liberation and culture remain foundational texts.