Guinea-Bissau, a small West African country, celebrates its Independence Day on September 24, marking the day in 1973 when the country declared independence from Portugal after a long and bitter war for liberation. Guinea-Bissau, then part of Portuguese Guinea, was one of the last African nations to achieve independence from European colonial rule.
The struggle for independence was led by the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) under the leadership of Amílcar Cabral, one of Africa’s most influential anti-colonial figures. The PAIGC began an armed rebellion against Portuguese colonial rule in 1963, and over the next decade, the movement grew stronger, gaining control of most of the rural areas in Guinea-Bissau.
On September 24, 1973, despite the ongoing war with Portuguese forces, the PAIGC declared Guinea-Bissau’s independence in the town of Madinara, which was under the party’s control. Although Portugal initially refused to recognize the declaration, the PAIGC received widespread international support, including from the United Nations. Following the overthrow of Portugal’s dictatorship in 1974, the new Portuguese government finally recognized Guinea-Bissau’s independence on September 10, 1974.
Today, Guinea-Bissau’s Independence Day is celebrated with national pride and reflects the country’s struggle for freedom. The day is marked with official ceremonies, military parades, and cultural performances, honoring the legacy of those who fought for the nation’s independence.–Worldwide News