According to petwithsupplies, Guinea-Bissau is a small country in West Africa, bordered by Senegal to the north and Guinea to the south. The country is made up of a total of 8 regions, each with its own capital. However, the two largest cities are Bissau, the national capital, and Buba in the east. Bissau is one of the oldest cities in West Africa and was founded in 1687 as a trading post for Portuguese merchants. It soon became an important port city and served as a major hub for slave traders during the 18th century. Today, Bissau is home to almost half of Guinea-Bissau’s population and serves as its political and administrative center. The city is divided into two distinct parts: The old town which contains many colonial-era buildings such as churches and government offices; and the new town which consists primarily of modern apartment buildings. Buba lies on Guinea-Bissau’s eastern border with Senegal and has a population of about 50 000 people. It is an important commercial center for traders from both countries who come to buy and sell goods such as fish, fruits, vegetables, spices, jewelry, clothing, textiles etc. Buba also has some historical sites such as Fort San Domingo which was built by Spanish settlers in 1693 to defend against Portuguese invaders. Despite their size difference Bissau and Buba are both crucial economic hubs for Guinea-Bissau’s economy. They serve as major centers for trade between different regions within the country as well as between Guinea-Bissau and its neighboring countries Senegal and Guinea. Both cities offer visitors a unique insight into traditional West African culture while also providing modern amenities such as hotels, restaurants, bars etc. Guinea-Bissau is a small West African nation that gained its independence from Portugal in 1974. It has been politically unstable since then, with a series of coups and attempted coups taking place over the years. In 2008, the country was in a state of political flux. The civil war that had been raging since 1998 had finally come to an end with the signing of a peace agreement in 2003. However, the agreement had not led to any significant changes in the political structure of the country. The president at the time was João Bernardo Vieira who had been elected in 2005 and was reelected for another five year term in 2009 despite allegations of fraud from opposition parties. The government at this time was dominated by former military officers and members of Vieira’s Partido Africano da Independência da Guiné e Cabo Verde (PAIGC), which held a majority of seats in parliament. This led to accusations of corruption and nepotism within the government as well as an increase in public discontent with Vieira’s rule. The economy of Guinea-Bissau also suffered during this period due to mismanagement and corruption by government officials as well as international sanctions imposed on it because of its involvement in drug trafficking. This culminated in a financial crisis which saw inflation reach 400% per year and unemployment skyrocket to over 50%. In 2008, Guinea-Bissau faced numerous external threats from its neighbors such as Senegal, who sought to exert control over its politics; as well as from international powers like France and Portugal who were concerned about instability spilling over into their own territories. The United Nations also sent peacekeeping forces into Guinea-Bissau that same year to monitor elections and help restore stability to the region. However, these forces were unable to prevent further coups or restore order completely until 2013 when José Mário Vaz was elected president following peaceful elections. Check eningbo for Guinea-Bissau in 2012.