Guinea-Bissau Roundup: Free medical care, civil-military cooperation, Starlink internet service

Guinea-Bissau launches free medical care to students with support from China

Guinea-Bissau has launched a school-based health initiative providing free medical care to students, in collaboration with the 20th Chinese medical team stationed in the country. The “Health into Schools” program, established in February by Guinea-Bissau’s Ministries of Public Health and Education, began operations on May 20. Since then, a team of 14 Chinese doctors, specialising in over 10 fields including paediatrics and cardiology, has offered health consultations, lectures, and screenings to more than 1,600 students across five schools in the capital, Bissau.

Guinea-Bissau strengthens civil-military cooperation with U.S. forces

Guinea-Bissau’s Guarda Nacional has completed its first Civil Affairs Joint Combined Exchange Training (JCET) in partnership with U.S. Special Operations Command Africa, aimed at improving civil-military relations and operational readiness. The training, which ended on May 30, 2025, near Bissau, was conducted with members of the U.S. Army’s 91st Civil Affairs Battalion. It focused on key areas such as civil engagement, reconnaissance, community needs assessment, and tactical combat casualty care.

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

Bolivia puts its Armed Forces on full display on 201st anniversary

Guinea-Bissau grants legal fishing access to Senegalese fishermen

Guinea-Bissau has formalised a new fisheries protocol with Senegal, granting legal access to its maritime zones for Senegalese artisanal fishermen, the Ministry of Fisheries has confirmed. The agreement aims to regulate cross-border fishing under a defined legal framework, ensuring greater protection for fishing activities while promoting joint management of shared marine resources. It marks a step toward sustainable exploitation of Guinea-Bissau’s coastal waters and improved maritime governance.

Guinea-Bissau inaugurates China-funded highway

President Umaro Sissoco Embaló on Monday inaugurated a newly completed highway connecting Bissau to the suburb of Safim, spanning 8.2 kilometres. The project, constructed by China’s Longjian Road & Bridge Co., Ltd., was fully funded by the Chinese government at a cost of $30 million. Speaking at the ceremony, President Embaló described the highway as a symbol of the “strong friendship, solidarity, and ongoing cooperation” between Guinea-Bissau and China.

Guinea-Bissau becomes 23rd African country to approve Starlink internet service

Starlink has officially launched its satellite-based high-speed internet service in Guinea-Bissau, following regulatory approval from the National Regulatory Authority for Information and Communication Technologies (ARN-TIC) in April 2025. The rollout began after a provisional license was granted in December 2024, marking a significant step toward enhancing the country’s digital infrastructure and connectivity. With this launch, Guinea-Bissau joins 22 other African nations that have approved the Starlink service, including Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Ghana, Egypt, and Morocco, as part of a broader effort to expand reliable internet access across the continent.