RUMO A UMA POLÍTICA DE DIREITO DE RETORNO E CIDADANIA PARA OS DESCENDENTES DE PESSOAS RETIRADAS DE TERRITÓRIOS DA ÁFRICA DURANTE O TRÁFICO TRANSATLÂNTICO E ESCRAVIDÃO DE POVOS AFRICANOS

ESTUDO DE CASO GUINÉ BISSAU

CONVIDAMOS AOS INTELECTUAIS, JORNALISTAS, ADVOGADOS E PARTIDOS POLÍTICOS DA GUINÉ BISSAU A PREPARAR UM FÓRUM PARA DISCUTIR A OBRIGAÇÃO DA GUINÉ BISSAU DE LEGISLAR O DIREITO DE RETORNO DE AFRODESCENDENTES DE ORIGEM GUINÉ BISSAU CLASSIFICADOS COMO PRISIONEIROS DE THE DUM DIVERSAS WAR.

“Há um preconceito de muitas pessoas, mesmo da esquerda, de que o imperialismo nos fez entrar na história no momento em que começou sua aventura em nossos países. . . . Consideramos que quando o imperialismo chegou à Guiné-Bissau fez-nos sair da história - a nossa história. . . . No momento em que o imperialismo chegou e o colonialismo chegou, nos fez sair da nossa história e entrar em outra história”. - Amílcar Cabral

“A libertação e independência do povo da Guiné-Bissau ainda não está completa. O projeto de desenvolvimento nacional na Guiné-Bissau deve incluir as histórias dos povos de origem guineense que foram levados como escravos e sua plena incorporação à sociedade guineense. Devemos ligar as suas histórias à história da Guiné-Bissau.” - Siphiwe Baleka, Criador, Iniciativa Década de Retorno Guiné Bissau

TOWARDS A RIGHT TO RETURN & CITIZENSHIP POLICY FOR DESCENDENTS OF PEOPLE TAKEN FROM TERRITORIES IN AFRICA DURING THE TRANSATLANTIC TRAFFICKING AND ENSLAVEMENT OF AFRICAN PEOPLE

CASE STUDY: GUINEA BISSAU

Amilcar Cabral and Siphiwe Baleka

“There is a preconception held by many people, even on the left, that imperialism made us enter history at the moment when it began its adventure in our countries. . . . We consider that when imperialism arrived in Guinea Bissau it made us leave history - our history. . . . The moment imperialism arrived and colonialism arrived, it made us leave our history and enter another history.” - Amilcar Cabral

“The liberation and independence of the people of Guinea Bissau is not yet complete. The national development project in Guinea Bissau must include the stories of people of Guinea Bissau origin who were taken as slaves and their full incorporation into Guine Bissau society. We must connect their histories to the history of Guinea Bissau.” - Siphiwe Baleka, Creator, Decade of Return Initiative Guinea Bissau

_____________________________________________________________________________

In February 2021, the Decade of Return Initiative in Guinea Bissau was launched. The purpose was to ensure that Guinea Bissau would benefit from the use of cultural heritage tourism made popular by Ghana’s “Year of Return” program in 2019 and Sierra Leone’s in 2020. The highlight of both country’s efforts has been the granting of citizenship to Afrodescendants from America. In 2021, the Decade of Return Initiative witnessed twenty-three Afrodescendents of Guinea Bissau origin return to their ancestral homeland. Despite great public pronouncement from officials in Guinea Bissau to support citizenship for the Afrodescendants of Guinea Bissau origin, after one year, only Siphiwe Baleka has been granted citizenship. What has happened to the remaining naturalization applications?

GOVERNMENT OF GUINEA BISSAU; MINISTRY OF TOURISM AND CRAFTS
MINISTER'S OFFICE AND GOVERNMENT SPEECH

Your Excellency

Eng® Nuno Gomes Nabian
Prime Minister

BISSAU:
Bissau, June 25, 2021

Subject: Request of Acquisition of Nationality to African American Descendants of Guinea Bissau

No. Ref 2/ GMTA/2021

Excellency,
The Minister of Tourism and Crafts presents His best and respectful greetings to your Excellency, with the best wishes of success in the performance of your noble role for the development of Guinea-Bissau. We inform you that within the framework of our partnership, the members of the "Balanta Burassa History and Genealogy Society in the United States” began to return to their origins through an initiative called “Decade of Return” in which we have already received two groups of this audience. According to DNA tests, they discovered that they originate from Guinea-Bissau. As an initiative of capital importance for the tourist sector in Guinea Bissau, associated with the aforementioned factors, we hereby request the good offices of Your Excellency, in order to authorize the start of the process for the acquisition of nationality to these people, according to the attached documents. It should be noted that an inter-ministerial commission was created for this purpose, in which an element of the Ministry of Justice has guided this entire nationality application process. No more subject for the moment. Accept my distinct consideration.

Fernando Vaz, Minister of Tourism

In October of 2021, Siphiwe Baleka met with H.E. Dr. Erieka Bennett, Founder and Head of Mission, at the Diaspora African Forum (DAF) headquarters in Accra, Ghana, to discuss Guinea Bissau’s Decade of Return Initiative. At the same time, Siphiwe Baleka also helped draft a Motion to the African Union Executive Council 39th Extraordinary Meeting to expedite the participation of the African Diaspora within the structures of the Africa Union. The motion recognized

“the official launch of the ‘Welcome Home’ Initiative “Decada Do Retorno 2021-2031” by the Ministry Of Tourism, Guinea-Bissau May 2021 as the official programme of the government to recognise the descendants of people taken from homelands that became the nation of Guinea Bissau as a notable programme of the UN Decade”

and called for the implementation of legislation

“to assist African Diaspora RTR Repatriates with acquiring residency, an expedited path to citizenship, land acquisition, and cultural integration programs which includes the creation of a special immigration category to allow ease of repatriation for this group.”

A plan was created to position Minister of Foreign Affairs Suzi Barbosa as a Champion not only of the Afrodescendants of Guinea Bissau origin, but of the entire Right to Return movement. Although Siphiwe Baleka was informed of Minister Barbosa’s willingness to receive him, no such meeting has yet taken place.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Communities-Cabinet of the Minister of State offers its best regards to His Excellency Founder of the Balanta B'urassa History and Genealogy Society in America (BBHAGSIA) and, using the present, in compliance with the superior guidelines of Her Excellency Ms. Suzi Carla Barbosa, Minister of State, to acknowledge receipt and thank you for the note, dated September 8 of the current year. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Communities-Office of the Minister of State hereby informs Mr. Brassa Mada, that Her Excellency the Secretary of State for Communities shall receive him. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Communities-Office of the Minister of State thanks His Excellency Founder of the Balanta B'urassa History and Genealogy Society in America (BBHAGSIA) and takes this opportunity to reiterate the assurances of her high and cordial consideration of His Excellency Siphiwe Baleka Founder of the Balanta B'urassa History and Genealogy Society in America (BBHA GSIA) and Coordinator of the Decade of Return Initiative.

On November 26, 2021 a third Decade of Return group came to Guinea Bissau and a meeting was held with Prime Minister Nuno Gomes Nabian and Minister of Tourism and Crafts and Government Spokesman, FERNANDO VAZ, who assured that “everything will be done to accelerate the process of naturalization of the African Americans.”

Since then, and despite a follow-up letter to the Prime Minister on April 25, 2022, no government official has contacted His Excellency Siphiwe Baleka to inform him of any progress on the naturalization applications which have already been received, nor of any plans to create specific policy for this class of people of Guinea Bissau origin.

As a result, it has become necessary to consider creating legislation that would follow the recommendations made to the African Union.

With the help of Washington DC Businessman and Howard University Consultant Russell Jones, the 39-page policy paper TOWARDS A RIGHT TO RETURN & CITIZENSHIP POLICY FOR DESCENDENTS OF PEOPLE TAKEN FROM TERRITORIES IN AFRICA DURING THE TRANSATLANTIC TRAFFICKING AND ENSLAVEMENT OF AFRICAN PEOPLE: CASE STUDY GUINEA BISSAU has been translated into Portuguese and is now being distributed to Guinea Bissau society.

It is important that the people of Guinea Bissau understand that, as Amilcar Cabral put it, “Folk taken from Africa, namely from Guine, were placed. . . as slaves. . . .” Thus, the history of those people taken from Guinea Bissau and enslaved in the Americas is part of Guinea Bissau’s history and not some foreign history. It is on this basis, then, that both the moral and LEGAL obligation of the Republic of Guinea Bissau to assist it’s lost children, emerges. The policy paper below presents a complete historical and legal foundation so that policy makers in Guinea Bissau can fulfill their obligation under the Constitution of the Republic of Guinea Bissau and international law, and in particular, the Geneva Convention in which Guinea Bissau is a signatory.

WE NOW CALL ON INTELLECTUALS, JOURNALISTS, LAWYERS, AND POLITICAL PARTIES IN GUINEA BISSAU TO PREPARE A FORUM TO DISCUSS GUINEA BISSAU’S OBLIGATION TO LEGISLATE THE RIGHT OF RETURN OF AFRODESCENDANTS OF GUINEA BISSAU ORIGIN WHO ARE CLASSIFIED AS PRISONERS OF THE DUM DIVERSAS WAR.

YOU CAN SUPPORT THIS ONGOING, GROUND-BREAKING WORK TO ESTABLISH A HOMELAND FOR AFRODESCENDANTS OF GUINEA BISSAU ORIGIN BY DONATING HERE:

“14. We believe in the inherent right of the Negro to possess himself of Africa . . . . “

INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR GUINEA BISSAU’S SWIMMERS: 1ST "DASH FOR CASH" EVENT AND ELITE TEAM SELECTION

Greetings Everyone!

The first step in our plan to prepare the best swimmers in Guinea Bissau for the 2024 Olympics is hosting the first swimming competition in Guinea Bissau's history (that we know of). The "Dash for Cash" will offer $500 each to the male and female over 16 winners and $250 each to the male and female under 16 winners. This is enough money to purchase food and pay school fees for a year! Please help us raise the $1,500 prize money! The competition is scheduled for June 18th (before the rainy season starts in full force) so we have just a few days to raise the money. Let's show the people of Guinea Bissau that there are people who care and are willing to provide development aid to help impact this country!

DONATE TODAY:

https://gofund.me/ed06364d

To understand why your support is so important, please read this.

NATAÇÃO, DINHEIRO E DESIGUALDADE GLOBAL: UMA COMPARAÇÃO DO APOIO DADO À FEDERAÇÃO DE NATAÇÃO DA GUINÉ BISSAU E À FEDERAÇÃO DE NATAÇÃO DA UCRÂNIA

O presidente da Federação de Natação da Guiné-Bissau, Siphiwe Baleka, conduz uma clínica de natação gratuita no rio perto da aldeia de Untche, na Guiné-Bissau.

Na segunda-feira, 16 de maio, tomei posse durante uma cerimônia de Estado realizada no Estádio Nacional da Guiné-Bissau "24 de Setembro" para servir como Presidente da Federação de Natação da Guiné-Bissau (FNGB) para os próximos quatro anos. Agora é minha responsabilidade desenvolver uma programação nacional de natação no 4º país mais pobre do mundo começando do zero - sem programas de natação, sem nadadores competitivos, treinadores, etc. Para entender meu maior desafio , assista a este vídeo e leia este relatório que preparei : SITUAÇÃO ATUAL DA GUINÉ BISSAU: UMA REVISÃO DE ESTATÍSTICAS RELEVANTES .

Obviamente, para fazer qualquer coisa, vou precisar de recursos, principalmente recursos financeiros. É por isso que a primeira coisa que fiz como Presidente da FNGB foi lançar a campanha GoFundMe Nadando na Guiné Bissau: Esperança para a nação . Nossa meta de arrecadação de fundos da Fase 1 para assistência imediata é de US$ 10.500. Nossa meta de arrecadação de fundos da Fase 2 para nosso Projeto de Desenvolvimento da Equipe Nacional de Elite 2022-2024, que enviará 1 menino e 1 menina para as Olimpíadas de 2024 em Paris, é de US$ 200.000 e nosso projeto da Fase 3, para construir uma piscina olímpica e centro de treinamento, será bem mais de US $ 1 milhão.

O MUNDO DA NATAÇÃO ESTÁ AJUDANDO OS NATADORES UCRANIANOS

Recentemente, o presidente da Ligue Européenne de Natation (LEN) declarou: “A LEN cobrirá a participação de atletas ucranianos no Campeonato Europeu de Esportes Aquáticos e agora está lançando seu próprio projeto de angariação de fundos para cobrir os custos de seus preparativos”. O site SwimSwam informou que

“A LEN, assim como a FINA e o Comitê Olímpico Internacional, contribuiu com US $ 100.000 para um novo fundo , que será compartilhado entre várias organizações aquáticas, federações nacionais que já estão fornecendo ajuda inestimável aos atletas ucranianos em toda a Europa…. A LEN estimou que um montante total de aprox. € 1.000.000 são necessários para cobrir o custo total de todos os atletas internacionalmente ativos para poder treinar e participar dos grandes eventos deste ano , incluindo o Campeonato Europeu de categorias de idade (júnior)….LEN abriu uma conta bancária dedicada onde qualquer pessoa (seja uma Federação, uma empresa, uma organização ou um indivíduo) podem fazer doações de qualquer magnitude”.

“Estamos mais do que certos de que muitos de vocês se juntarão a nós em grande número neste projeto especial de angariação de fundos, acendendo uma pequena luz de esperança na vida dos atletas ucranianos” , disse Silva. “Os atletas ucranianos são atletas da LEN e a LEN tem a obrigação moral de ajudá-los a continuar com seus sonhos aquáticos.”

E OS SONHOS AQUÁTICOS DOS NATADORES DA GUINÉ BISSAU?

Para colocar as coisas em perspectiva, considere a seguinte comparação entre a Guiné-Bissau e a Ucrânia:

AJUDA DOS EUA À GUINÉ BISSAU E UCRÂNIA: DESENVOLVIMENTO HUMANO VS. GUERRA

Guiné-Bissau: 13.948 sq mi

Ucrânia: 233.031 sq mi

Guiné-Bissau: 2 milhões de pessoas

Ucrânia: 44 milhões de pessoas

Guiné-Bissau: #175 de 189 países no Índice de Desenvolvimento Humano

Ucrânia: #74 de 189 países no Índice de Desenvolvimento Humano

Passaporte da Guiné-Bissau classificado em 92º de 112

Passaporte ucraniano classificado 34 de 112.

Ajuda dos EUA à Guiné-Bissau: A USAID não tem escritório neste país e não existe um programa de assistência direta dos EUA. No entanto, os EUA têm vários programas regionais ou mundiais, que beneficiam indiretamente a Guiné-Bissau. O último programa é o Cashew-LIFT de $39 milhões compartilhado com o Senegal e a Gâmbia.

Ajuda dos EUA à Ucrânia : Desde 2014, os Estados Unidos forneceram mais de US$ 6,4 bilhões em assistência de segurança para treinamento e equipamentos para ajudar a Ucrânia a preservar sua integridade territorial, proteger suas fronteiras e melhorar a interoperabilidade com a OTAN.

Em 11 de março, o Congresso aprovou US$ 13,6 bilhões em gastos emergenciais relacionados à luta da Ucrânia contra a invasão da Rússia. O dinheiro inclui armas, suprimentos militares e uma das maiores infusões de ajuda externa dos EUA na última década. Mas também cobre o envio de tropas dos EUA para a Europa e dinheiro para agências domésticas para aplicar sanções.

No mês passado, o presidente Biden solicitou US$ 33 bilhões ao Congresso. Na sexta-feira, o governo Biden anunciou um novo pacote de armas para a Ucrânia no valor de US$ 150 milhões. O mais recente pacote de ajuda militar, a nona parcela de assistência à segurança, eleva o compromisso de ajuda militar dos EUA para US$ 3,8 bilhões desde que Moscou invadiu seu vizinho no final de fevereiro.

MISSÃO DA FEDERAÇÃO INTERNACIONAL DE NATAÇÃO (FINA)

“A missão do programa de desenvolvimento da FINA é elevar a importância dos esportes aquáticos em todo o mundo, fornecendo uma estrutura para maior participação, promoção aprimorada e sucesso competitivo global no esporte. Concentrando sua atenção em: Promoção e apoio, educação, governança e administração e alto desempenho e treinamento.” - FINA.org

Um dos meus professores ensinou que uma definição funcional de justiça é:

1. ninguém é maltratado;

2. quem mais precisa de ajuda recebe mais ajuda

Você pode ver nos gráficos abaixo, a Guiné-Bissau recebeu apenas US$ 120 milhões em ajuda externa global em 2019, e pouco disso vindo dos Estados Unidos.

Vim à Guiné-Bissau para usar a minha experiência e paixão pela natação para ajudar um país que mais precisa de ajuda. Vim para cumprir a missão da FINA em um país cujos nadadores foram ignorados e cujo povo foi negligenciado. Nas minhas cartas ao Presidente da República da Guiné-Bissau e ao Comité Olímpico Nacional, afirmei:

“Se a Guiné Bissau conceder minha cidadania quando eu retornar em 31 de maio, e desde que o COMITÉ OLÍMPICO DA GUINÉ-BISSAU garanta com sucesso meu convite de Universality Place da FINA, meu plano seria o seguinte:

1. Permaneça na Guiné-Bissau depois de 2 de junho para treinar na piscina do Ledger Hotel até a partida para Tóquio.

2. Durante o período de treinamento, eu dava instruções de natação livre uma vez por dia para o povo da Guiné-Bissau. 

3. Após as Olimpíadas, voltaria à Guiné-Bissau permanentemente para ensinar em uma das Universidades enquanto desenvolvia o programa nacional de natação da Guiné-Bissau, alavancando meus contatos e patrocinadores internacionais.     

Recebi a cidadania e estou mantendo minha parte no acordo. Agora apelo ao mundo da natação em particular, e às pessoas de boa vontade em todos os lugares, para que me ajudem a acender uma pequena luz de esperança na vida dos atletas da Guiné-Bissau que também trará uma luz de esperança para o povo da Guiné-Bissau.

DOE AGORA PARA O

Nadar na Guiné-Bissau: Esperança para a campanha GoFundMe

SWIMMING, MONEY AND GLOBAL INEQUALITY: A COMPARISON OF SUPPORT GIVEN TO THE GUINEA BISSAU SWIMMING FEDERATION AND THE UKRAINE SWIMMING FEDERATION

Guinea Bissau Swimming Federation President Siphiwe Baleka conducting a free swim clinic in the river near the village of Untche, Guinea Bissau.

On Monday, May 16th, I was sworn into office during a state ceremony held at the Guinea Bissau National Stadium "24 de Setembro" to serve as the President of the Guinea Bissau Swimming Federation (Federação de Natação da Guiné-Bissau - FNGB) for the next four years. It is now my responsibility to develop a national swimming programming in the 4th poorest country in the world starting from scratch - no swimming programs, no competitive swimmers, coaches, etc. To understand my biggest challenge, watch this video and read this report I prepared: CURRENT STATUS OF GUINEA BISSAU: A REVIEW OF RELEVANT STATISTICS.

Obviously, in order to do anything, I’m going to need resources, especially financial resources. Which is why the first thing I have done as President of the FNGB is to launch the Swimming In Guinea Bissau: Hope For The Nation GoFundMe campaign. Our Phase 1 fundraising goal for immediatate assistance is for $10,500. Our Phase 2 fundraising goal for our 2022 -2024 National Elite Team Development Project, which will ultimately send 1 boy and 1 girl to the 2024 Olympics in Paris, is $200,000 and our Phase 3 project, to build an Olympic swimming pool and training center, will be well over $1 million.

THE SWIMMING WORLD IS HELPING UKRAINIAN SWIMMERS

Recently, the Ligue Européenne de Natation (LEN) President stated, “LEN will cover the participation of Ukrainian athletes at the European Aquatics Championships and is now launching its own fund-raising project to cover the costs of their preparations.” The SwimSwam website reported that

“LEN, just like FINA and the International Olympic Committee, has contributed $ 100,000 to a new fund, which is to be shared among several aquatic organisations, national federations which are already providing invaluable help to Ukrainian athletes across Europe…. LEN has estimated that a total amount of approx. € 1,000,000 is required to cover the total cost of all internationally active athletes to be able to train and participate in this year’s major events, including the age-group (junior) European Championships….LEN has opened a dedicated bank account where anybody (whether a Federation, a company, an organisation or an individual) can make donations of any magnitude.”

“We are more than certain that many of you will join us in big numbers in this special fund-raising project, turning on a small light of hope in the lives of Ukrainian athletes” Mr Silva said. “Ukrainian athletes are LEN athletes and LEN has a moral obligation to help them in continuing with their Aquatics dreams.”

WHAT ABOUT THE AQUATIC DREAMS OF THE SWIMMERS OF GUINEA BISSAU?

To put things into perspective, consider the follwoing comparison between Guinea Bissau and Ukraine:

US AID TO GUINEA BISSAU AND UKRAINE: HUMAN DEVELOPMENT VS. WAR

Guinea Bissau: 13,948 sq mi

Ukraine: 233,031 sq mi

Guinea Bissau: 2 million people

Ukraine : 44 million people

Guinea Bissau: #175 out of 189 countries on the Human Development Index

Ukraine: #74 out of 189 countries on the Human Development Index

Guinea Bissau passport ranked 92nd out of 112

Ukrainian passport ranked 34 out of 112.

US Aid to Guinea Bissau: USAID has no office in this country, and there is no direct U.S. assistance program. However, the U. S. has a number of regional or worldwide programs, which indirectly benefit Guinea-Bissau. Latest program is the $39 million Cashew-LIFT shared with Senegal and Gambia.

US Aid to Ukraine: Since 2014, the United States has provided more than $6.4 billion in security assistance for training and equipment to help Ukraine preserve its territorial integrity, secure its borders, and improve interoperability with NATO.

On March 11, Congress approved $13.6 billion in emergency spending related to Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s invasion. The money includes weapons, military supplies and one of the largest infusions of U.S. foreign aid in the last decade. But it also covers the deployment of U.S. troops to Europe and money for domestic agencies to enforce sanctions.

Last month, President Biden requested $33 billion from Congress. On Friday, the Biden administration announced a new weapons package for Ukraine worth $150 million. The latest military aid package, the ninth security assistance installment, brings the U.S. military aid commitment to $3.8 billion since Moscow invaded its neighbor in late February.

Misson of the Fédération Internationale De Natation (FINA)

“The mission of the FINA development programme is to elevate the importance of aquatics worldwide by providing a framework for increased participation, enhanced promotion, and global competitive success in the sport. Focusing its attention on: Promotion and support, education, governance & administration and high performance & training.” - FINA.org

One of my teachers taught that a functional definition of justice is:

1. no one is mistreated;

2. those who need the most help get the most help

You can see from the graphics below, Guinea Bissau received just $120 million in global foreign aid in 2019, and little of that coming from the United States.

I have come to Guinea Bissau to use my experience and passion for swimming to help a country that needs the most help. I have come to fulfill FINA’s mission in a country whose swimmers have been ignored and whose people have been neglected. In my letters to the President of the Republic of Guinea Bissau and to the National Olympic Committee, I stated,

“Should Guinea Bissau grant my citizenship when I return May 31, and provided the COMITÉ OLÍMPICO DA GUINÉ-BISSAU successfully secure my Universality Place invitation from FINA, my plan would be the following:

1. Remain in Guinea Bissau after June 2 to train at the swim pool at the Ledger Hotel until departure to Tokyo.

2. During the training period, I would conduct free swim instructions once a day for the people of Guinea Bissau. 

3. After the Olympics, I would return to Guinea Bissau permanently to teach at one of the Universities while developing Guinea Bissau’s national swimming program, leveraging my international contacts and sponsors.     

I was given citizenship and I am keeping my end of the deal. Now I appeal to the swimming world in particular, and people of goodwill everywhere, to help me turn on a small light of hope in the lives of Guinea Bissau athletes which will also bring a light of hope to the people of Guinea Bissau.

DONATE NOW TO THE

Swimming In Guinea Bissau: Hope For The Nation GoFundMe campaign

AT LOOK AT THE STRUGGLE TO BRING COMPETITIVE SWIMMING TO GUINEA BISSAU

Highlights of Siphiwe Baleka efforts to help FINA develop Swimming in Africa and the fight against him.

MISSION OF THE INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING FEDERATION (FINA)

“The mission of the FINA development programme is to elevate the importance of aquatics worldwide by providing a framework for increased participation, enhanced promotion, and global competitive success in the sport. Focusing its attention on: Promotion and support, education, governance & administration and high performance & training.” - FINA.org

“Your devotion to promote African swimming is quite laudable and wish we could have many more Siphiwes around.” 

- Doreen Tiborcz, Masters Committee Chairman at FINA, October 11, 2019

1988 - at 17 years of age, I swam the 100 meters freestyle in 53.17 at the Long Course Junior Olympic Championships in Orlando, Florida. In 1989, the African Continental record was 53.08, which would have made me the second fastest black swimmer on the African Continent.

1989 - at 18 years of age, I won the Illinois Swimming State Championship in the 200 meter breastroke in a time of 2:28.2, faster than the African Continental record at the time, 2:31.33 held by Nabil Ben Aissa of Tunisia.

1991 - at the age of twenty, I swam the 100 meters freestyle in 52.29 - nine-tenths of a second slower than the US Olympic Trial Qualifying time. My time was 22nd fastest in the United States and was fast enough to place 48th out of 65 swimmers at the 1992 Olympics. The time was also fast enough to break the African Continental record, 53.08, held by Mohamed Lattaoui of Egypt (1989). My 100 breast time of 1:07.4 was also faster than the African Continental record of 1:09.05 held by Abderazzek Bella of Algeria. Finally, my 200 IM time of 2:10.20 was faster than the African Continental record of 2:13.55 held by Samir Bouchlagem of Tunisia. Had I been advised to return to my ancestral homeland of Guinea Bissau and compete for them, i would have been considered one of Africa’s greatest swimmers at the time.

1996 -  “[Yale Swim Coach Frank] Keefe recalls meeting [Baleka] for lunch that semester and doing a double take when his former star walked into the diner. "He was a Rastafarian," Keefe said. "He said that he wanted to be the national swim coach of Ethiopia. We had a great conversation—with [Siphiwe] you always did. But, yeah, he was out there." from Sports Illustrated Article

AUGUST 28, 2015 -  1st attempt to compete in the African Swimming Championships email to CANA

From: Siphiwe Baleka <fitnesstrucking@gmail.com>

Date: Fri, Aug 28, 2015 at 2:00 PM

Subject: Eligibility to Swim in African Championships

To: <canazone4secretariat@gmail.com>

Greetings, 

My name is Siphiwe Baleka. I am interested in swimming on the African Continent in 2016. I was born and raised in America, but DNA testing shows that my paternal ancestry is Balanta (people living in Guinea Bissau today) and that my maternal Ancestry is Yoruba. I am a two-time US Masters Swimming National Champion and the first African-American on the All Ivy League Swim Team. Below are my recent race results at the 2015 US Masters Long Course Nationals. In 2012, I became the first African American to finish Ironman South Africa (see my book TriBlackAlete) You can find out more about me by watching the Fox Sports live video. 

I would like to know about the possibility of swimming in the African National Championships (on the basis of my ancestry) next year. 

 Thank you for your time,

Siphiwe Baleka

NOTE: NO RESPONSE FROM CANA ZONE 4 SECRETARIAT

DECEMBER 16, 2015 - Reaching out to the FINA Masters Technical Committee

From: Siphiwe Baleka <fitnesstrucking@gmail.com>

Date: Wed, Dec 16, 2015 at 5:06 PM

Subject: Competing in Africa in 2016

To: Mel Goldstein <goldsteinmel@sbcglobal.net>

Greetings Mel,

Any opportunity for me to compete somewhere in Africa in 2016?

Siphiwe Baleka

NOTE: NO RESPONSE FROM MEL GOLDSTEIN, FINA MASTERS TECHNICAL COMMITTEE

JANUARY 2, 2016 - Competing in Africa in 2016

From: Siphiwe Baleka <fitnesstrucking@gmail.com>

Date: Sat, Jan 2, 2016 at 3:02 PM

Subject: Competing in Africa in 2016

To: Mel Goldstein <goldsteinmel@sbcglobal.net>, Laura Hamel <lhamel@usms.org>

Cc: Shaun Adriaanse <canazone4secretariat@gmail.com>, analima29@hotmail.com, info@samastersswimming.com, kennedy@yebo.co.za, guyh@summercon.co.za, wahoosecretary@gmail.com, pjduffy@broll.com, bosmead@gmail.com, mangelos@mweb.co.za, "winrose@telkomsa.net" <winrose@telkomsa.net>, "odendaalannemarie0@gmail.com" <odendaalannemarie0@gmail.com>, "judy.collins@vodamail.co.za" <judy.collins@vodamail.co.za>, "hestersnyman@mweb.co.za" <hestersnyman@mweb.co.za>, marinetzswimmingclub@gmail.com, info@swimafrica.net, sports@ug.edu.gh, headofschool@lincoln.edu.gh, kmoolchandani@lincoln.edu.gh, info@softkenya.com, eth@telecom.net.et, "Green, Robert (DPR)" <robert.green@dc.gov>, Kathy Cooper <blackheritageswimming@gmail.com>

Greetings,

This email is going out to people and organizations that may be interested in my effort to become a World Champion at the 2017 FINA Masters World Championships (Men's 45-49 Age Group). If I am successful, I may become the first African American Masters Swimming World Champion. In preparation, I am planning to connect my passion for swimming with my ancestral heritage, something I did in 2012 when I became the US Masters Swimming National Champion in two evetns and then became the first African American to complete Ironman South Africa.

In preparation for 2017 Masters Swimming World Championships, I am planning my own personal Black Swimming tour in 2016 that begins with the 30th Annual BlackHistory Invitational Swim Meet in Washington, D.C. February 12th through the 16th. Then moves to the 14th Annual National Black Heritage Swim Meet in Cary, North Carolina May 28-29. I am hoping to culminate this tour with a competition in Africa sometime between August and December 2016. The purpose of such a trip would be:

1) interest African Americans in the sport of swimming at all levels, from kids through masters

2) provide historical and cultural components to the sport

3) connect black swimmers in America with black swimmers in Africa

4) propsect on possibilities for coaching black swimmers in Africa

5) compete against some of the best swimmers, white and black, on the African continent

6) provide personal fulfilment returning to the continent

In essence, this campaign is a way for me to combine two of the most important things in my life: my ancestors and swimming.

If you are able to provide any information about any opportunities to compete and participate in any ongoing swimming program on the African continent in the second half of 2016, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Respectfully,

Siphiwe Baleka

NOTE: NO RESPONSE

AUGUST 23, 2019 - Contacting Senegal and Guinea Bissau Swim Federations

From: Siphiwe Baleka <fitnesstrucking@gmail.com>

To: Kyle Deery

Cc: Fares Ksebati ; Mel Goldstein <goldsteinmel@sbcglobal.net>; Paige Walters

Sent: Friday, August 23, 2019, 11:56:18 AM EDT

Subject: Contacting Senegal and Guinea Bissau Swim Federations

Greetings Kyle,

My apologies for all the requests lately, but with Laura not at USMS anymore, you are the only one that I know. I need help contacting  Dr. Mohamed Diop, FINA Bureau Member from Dakar  I will be traveling to Senegal and Guinea Bissau in late December and I want to do some swim related activities, possibly some swim clinics. I need swimming contacts in these countries. Perhaps USA Swimming can help as well. I've contacted Mel Goldstein previously and he is CC'd on this email as well. I appreciate any help or contacts that you can provide.

Respectfully,

Siphiwe Baleka

From: Mel Goldstein <goldsteinmel@sbcglobal.net>

Date: Fri, Aug 23, 2019 at 7:26 PM

Subject: Re: Contacting Senegal and Guinea Bissau Swim Federations

To: Siphiwe Baleka <fitnesstrucking@gmail.com>

Cc: Kyle Deery, Fares Ksebati, Paige Walters

Siphiwe

Mohamond is from Senegal not Dakar.. I will forward your message to him and he will contact you if his federation is interested 

From: Siphiwe Baleka <fitnesstrucking@gmail.com>

Date: Fri, Aug 23, 2019 at 7:33 PM

Subject: Re: Contacting Senegal and Guinea Bissau Swim Federations

To: Mel Goldstein <goldsteinmel@sbcglobal.net>

Cc: Kyle Deery , Fares Ksebati , Paige Walters

Mel, Dakar is the capital of Senegal.

From: Mel Goldstein <goldsteinmel@sbcglobal.net>

Date: Sat, Aug 24, 2019 at 2:24 AM

Subject: Re: Contacting Senegal and Guinea Bissau Swim Federations

To: Siphiwe Baleka <fitnesstrucking@gmail.com>, Kyle Deery

Yes, my bad thinking of Doha .. I have sent your message to Mohammod.

Mel Goldstein, Education Services | U.S. Masters Swimming

Le 27 août 2019 21:08, Mel Goldstein <goldsteinmel@sbcglobal.net> a écrit :

Mohamed, 

I hope your travels were uneventful as was mine... This gentlemen contacted our National Office and wanted to make contact with you... I am reluctant to give out information.  If you want to contact him his email is below...

I still want that blue shirt...

Mel Goldstein, Education Services | U.S. Masters Swimming

On Tue, Aug 27, 2019 at 7:49 PM Mohamed Diop <drmohameddiop@yahoo.fr> wrote:

Dear Siphiwe

My friend foward me you email.

I will happy to meet you in Dakar in décembre.

Infortunally, Guinée Bissau don't have active fédération but i can give you One contact.

Please received my WhatsApp contact :

Dr Mohamed Diop +221766696539

Regards Mohamed 

OCTOBER 3, 2019 -

Siphiwe Baleka’s Sorcery Dominates 1st International Masters Swimming Championships

OCTOBER 19, 2019 -

On 9 Oct 2019, at 16:15, Siphiwe Baleka <fitnesstrucking@gmail.com> wrote:

Greetings Doreen,

It was a pleasure to meet with you in Egypt and have the opportunity to talk frankly about FINA and your work as the Masters Committee Chairman. Please keep me in mind whenever there is an opportunity to compete or promote swimming at all levels in Africa. Towards that end, African Sports Monthly will be featuring my interview in their magazine next month (see email thread below) to start this campaign. I will be working to promote African swimming for the 2022 Youth Olympics in Dakar, Senegal as well as to promote Masters Swimming, too. 

Respectfully,

Siphiwe Baleka

DECEMBER 29, 2019 - ASVG MOU for African Ancestry

From: Siphiwe Baleka <fitnesstrucking@gmail.com>

Date: Sun, Dec 29, 2019 at 12:13 PM

Subject: ASVG MOU for African Ancestry.docx

To: <asvgnorthamerica@gmail.com>

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

BETWEEN

THE AFRICAN SPORTS VENTURES GROUP (ASVG)

AND

AFRICAN ANCESTRY (AA)

WHEREAS, ASVG recognizes that the Global Sports market is a multi-billion-dollar highly lucrative industry witnessing continuous growth, expansion and benefits to many communities, generating US$700 billion in revenues annually;

WHEREAS, ASVG, headquartered in Accra, Ghana is a Limited Liability Sports Solutions, Services and Business Corporation with the vision to provide gifted athletes in Africa with the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential while also developing the platforms and full services to provide for careers in the sports industry;

WHEREAS, ASVG reached a milestone agreement with the Federation of Africa University Sports (FASU) to institute a continental Student-Athlete Sports Scholarship program for Universities in Africa on November 22nd 2019, will now establish the first ever African Collegiate Sports League for all sports disciplines mirroring the NCAA in the USA;

WHEREAS, African Ancestry (AA) has helped more than 500,000 people of African descent recover their history, reconnect with their ancestors, and create a lasting legacy for future generations;

WHEREAS, AA has played a significant role in the “Year of Return” which the Ghana Tourism Authority reports has already witnessed 750,000 foreign visitors in 2019, a number that is expected to top 1M before the year ends with up to 1.9 billion dollars also expected to be accrued in revenue as a result of the Year of Return activities;

WHEREAS, AA has launched its Family Reunions initiative that will bring many members of the African Diaspora to several countries on the motherland; 

WHEREAS, ASVG sees an opportunity to include professional athletes in AA Family Reunions while giving them a secure opportunity to develop the sports industry in Africa;

WHEREAS, the relationship between the two organizations will be of mutual benefit in engaging increased benevolence, trade, investment and most importantly, reconnection with Africa;

NOW, THEREFORE, WE, the undersigned affix our signatures in agreement to work jointly in support of each other and the people of Africa and African descent this       day of 2019, in Accra, Ghana. Specifically, we will join our effort in taking the following steps:

1. ASVG will direct professional athletes to take the AA matriclan and patriclan DNA tests;

2. ASVG will connect the professional athletes with one of the 32 Universities in the African Collegiate Sports League closest to his ancestral homeland through ASVG’s Sports Scholarship Fund;

3. ASVG works with AA to bring the professional athlete to his or her sponsored University through AA’s Family Reunion initiative

4. ASVG promotes AA as an official sponsor of the African Collegiate Sports League; AA promotes ASVG Sports Scholarship Fund and refers professional athletes who take the AA test to ASVG.

5. ASVG and AA work to match each of the 32 Universities with at least one professional athlete from America.

6. All “Official” project materials to be jointly approved by ASVG and AA and shall contain respective logos and signage.

JANUARY 10, 2020 -

Guinea Bissau Prepares To Launch its "Decade of Return" Initiative: Report of the President of the Balanta B'urassa History & Genealogy Society in America Mission To Guinea Bissau

“MINISTER OF SPORT

In the morning, I went to the Palacio do Governo in my capacity as the African Sports Ventures Group (ASVG) North America Regional Director to meet with  the Guinea Bissau Minister of Sport Mr. Dionisio Pereira to discuss ASVG’s program to bring African American professional athletes to their ancestral homelands during the “Decade of Return”. The Minister agreed to write a letter of special invitation to a legendary multiple Olympic champion who happens to have Balanta ancestry to join our group during our Africa Day 2020 Tour to Senegal and Guinea Bissau. Once I receive the invitation letter, deliver it to the athlete, and confirm acceptance, I will announce who it is. I can’t wait.”

JANUARY 20, 2020 -

On 20 Jan 2020, at 18:18, Siphiwe Baleka <fitnesstrucking@gmail.com> wrote:

Greetings Doreen,

I just returned from Guinea Bissau. It was an amazing trip and you can read all about it here.

After talking to GB's Minister of Sport, Dionisio Pereira, he agreed that it would be a great thing if Guinea Bissau gave me citizenship (because of my Balanta ancestry) and I competed in this summer's Olympics for Guinea Bissau. I am writing to you to find out if there's anything preventing me from doing this according to IOC rules. Can you investigate this for me please? I believe I would be the first African American to compete for an African nation at the Olympics.

Thanks and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Siphiwe Baleka

CURRENT STATUS OF GUINEA BISSAU: A REVIEW OF RELEVANT STATISTICS

Compiled by Siphiwe Baleka, Founder,

Balanta B’urassa History & Genealogy Society in America

Guinea-Bissau is one of the least developed countries in the world, ranking 178th out of 189 countries on the Human Development Index in 2019.

In 2021, the country was labeled the 27th most fragile nation in the world, according to the 2021 Fragile State Index (The Fund for Peace 2021).

Guinea Bissau is the 4th poorest country in the world with a 69.3% poverty rate, the highest extreme poverty rate of all countries in Western Africa.

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an additional economic decline of 1.4 percent in 2020, further stunting economic and human development.

GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT (GDP)

In 2019, GDP per capita purchasing power parity was 1,650 USD, ranked 174th out of 186 countries. Between 2000 and 2019 the country’s real GDP growth averaged 3.4 percent, below sub-Saharan African and West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) countries, which recorded growth averages of 4.5 and 4.4 percent in the same period (World Bank Group 2020b). 

Population is projected to rise from 1.9 million people in 2019 to 3.1 million by 2040.

Extreme poverty will rise to 1.8 million people in 2040.

An average economic growth of 9.2 percent (+6 percent above the historical average) or higher is required to stabilize absolute poverty in 2040 at the 2019 level. 

EMPLOYMENT

A recent UN country analysis suggests that over 75 percent of employment in Guinea-Bissau is in the informal sector, and IMF estimates that 40 percent of the economy is informal (UN Guinea-Bissau 2020; Medina, Jonelis, and Cangul 2017). 

Data from a Harmonized Living Conditions Survey in 2018 report that 52 percent of those working in the informal sector in Guinea-Bissau are considered poor, in contrast to only 25 percent in the formal sector (Ndoye 2020). The informal economy often generates little to no government revenues.

Agriculture comprises 69 percent of GDP, with over 90 percent derived from cashew nut exports that provide direct or indirect income to 85 percent of the population (Guinea-Bissau 2025: Strategic and Operational Plan for 2015–2020, Terra Ranka)

HEALTH

According to the Global Health Security Index 2019, Guinea-Bissau has the second most fragile health system in the world (Cameron, Nuzzo, and Bell 2019).

Despite its reliance on agriculture, the population suffers from high malnutrition and food insecurity rates, with 18.9 percent experiencing undernourishment (Baquedano et al. 2021).

Stunting in children under five was at 26.8 percent in 2019, and acute malnutrition (wasting) was 7.3 percent (United Nations Children’s Fund 2021; UNICEF, WHO, and World Bank Group 2020).

Infant mortality rates in 2017 were at 49 per 1,000 live births, the highest amongst all SIDS countries albeit ranked only the 10th highest in Western Africa. Malaria, tuberculosis, and diarrheal diseases are the leading causes of death among children (United Nations Children’s Fund 2021).

 Guinea-Bissau’s maternal mortality rates are also among the world’s highest (900 deaths per 100 thousand live births). Despite the scale of the problem, the government allocated less than 1 percent of its health budget to women’s and children’s health in 2013 (United Nations Integrated Peace Building Office in Guinea-Bissau and Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights 2017). 

The Global Health Security (GHS) Index is the first comprehensive assessment and benchmarking of health security and related capabilities across the 195 countries that make up the States Parties to the International Health Regulations (IHR). According to the Global Health Security Index, Guinea Bissau ranks just 186th out of 195 countries.

INCOME INEQUALITY

Guinea-Bissau has one of the most unequal distributions of income, with a Gini coefcient of 0.51 in 2022 (ranked 1st among countries in Western Africa and 6th highest among small island developing states). 

Many households in Guinea-Bissau generally do not have a bank account or utilize bank services, with access to a bank account in 2013 below 1 percent of the population. 

In 2019, 27.9 percent of the population had access to electricity countrywide compared to only 10.2 percent in the rural areas of the country (50.2 percent in urban settings). These figures are far below the 2010 to 2018 average for WAEMU countries, which recorded 17 to 80 percent of access in urban settings and 20 percent in rural areas (World Bank Group 2020b). The availability and cost of electricity is concerning, with the average cost of electricity in Guinea-Bissau (USD 0.42/kWh) amongst the highest in sub-Saharan Africa (World Bank Group 2020a, World Bank Group 2020b).

Additionally, poor access to internet (only 10 percent of the population had access to internet in 2018) further diminishes the ability of businesses and individuals to benefit from the digital transformation (UN Guinea-Bissau 2020).

In 2020, only 24 percent of the nation had access to the highest standard of safely managed drinking water sources and 12 percent of households had access to safely managed sanitation (World Health Organization and United Nations Children’s Fund 2020). 

The WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (JMP) data for the Total Population of Guinea Bissau.

The WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (JMP) data for the Urban Population of Guinea Bissau.

The WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (JMP) data for the Rural Population of Guinea Bissau.

EDUCATION

One-third of children between 6 and 11 years old have never attended school (Só et al. 2018; World Bank Group 2020b).

Much of the education workforce lacks the necessary knowledge and proper understanding of the materials covered by the national curriculum, while many schools lack adequate learning materials for students. In addition, teacher strikes are persistent in the country, negatively impacting students through constant school closures (World Bank Group 2020b).

GOVERNANCE

Out of the six main indicators used to assess the quality of governance by the World Bank in its Worldwide Governance Indicators analysis (where 0 percent corresponds to the lowest ranking, least effective, and 100 percent to the highest ranking, most effective) Guinea-Bissau consistently scores around the lowest of all countries. In 2019, Guinea-Bissau scored 6.2 percent for the Government E!ectiveness indicator, and 5.2 percent for Control of Corruption. For Rule of Law and Political Stability, it scored 7.6 and 24 percent (World Bank Group 2019).

According to the  Bertelsmann Stiftung’s Transformation Index (BTI) 2020 Country Report on Guinea Bissau:

“Public officeholders who benefit illegally from their positions are rarely held accountable by legal prosecution when they break the law and engage in corrupt practices. This concerns all the top government officials, including the president. Public contempt depends on relatedness and the reputation of the officeholder. As a rule, corrupt officials are widely perceived as getting away with their crimes without consequences. Usually, officeholders who break the law are dismissed, rather than prosecuted. Members of the government accused of corruption often return to official positions after an interim. Conflicts of interest and ethical misconduct are often not addressed.”

According to the United Nations Periodic Review in 2019, instability is reflected in the 2018 Ibrahim Index of African Governance, in which Guinea-Bissau ranks forty-second out of 54 African countries. It has fostered neither economic growth nor coherent social policies and has resulted in Guinea-Bissau being dependent on the international community for assistance in the economic, health and education sectors.

 DEMOCRAT NEWSPAPER  04/19/2023 - “The National Cell for the Processing of Financial Information (CENTIF-GB) revealed on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, that risk assessment data on the processes that were reviewed, both at the Public Ministry and at the Judiciary Police, indicate that Guinea-Bissau Bissau is losing a lot and that 85 billion and 853 million of State assets could be in the hands of others.

The revelations were made by the president of CENTIF, Justino Sá, at the opening of the three days of training (18, 19 and 20) on matters of financial investigation, accusations and convictions for crimes of money laundering and financing of terrorism, held at the National School of Administration (ENA), aimed at actors in the criminal chain.

Justino Sá explained that the seminar was held as part of the implementation of the recommendations of the mutual risk assessment report that Guinea-Bissau was subject to in 2020 and 2021, arguing that the CENTIF should equip the law enforcement staff with tools that allow them to fulfill and fully perform its functions.

Justino Sá asked the Attorney General of the Republic to transform the office for the fight against corruption and economic rights and adopt the principle of mobility of magistrates, being a very sensitive office, having defended the specialization of magistrates so that Guinea-Bissau be more sensitive to the phenomenon of the fight against corruption.

According to Justino Sá, the amounts referred to are those found in the processes that were investigated from 2013 to 2018, revealing that the country could have lost 100 billion CFA francs.

Faced with this situation, Justino warned magistrates that they have a very important role to play in the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing.

He said that this situation should not only be a concern for the CENTIF, but also a national concern, especially for judges who have the mission to work for the credibility of justice.

The president of the CENTIF stressed that one of the shortcomings that the cell pointed out in the mutual evaluation was effectiveness, because “there was no conviction for the crime of money laundering and financing of terrorism in Guinea-Bissau, as well as the confiscation of assets of any corrupt people or traffickers.

In turn, the Attorney General of the Republic, Edmundo Mendes, said he hoped that the seminar would provide participants with the necessary tools to detect, investigate, prosecute and effectively condemn the actors of organized crime.”

By: Carolina Djemé

PUBLIC INVESTMENT

Public investment is almost entirely financed by external aid, with major donors including the UN System, the West African Development Bank, the World Bank, and the African Development Bank (World Bank Group 2016). More than 90 percent of the government’s health budget comes from international partners.

A continuation of historical trends will increase the human suffering and development burden in Guinea-Bissau.

THE IMPENDING FOOD SECURITY CRISIS COMING TO GUINE BISSAU

Globally around 24 billion tons of fertile soil and 27,000 bio-species are lost each year. Scientists are saying that by 2045, the planet will have 40% less food for 9.2 billion people and that there are only 40 to 60 harvests left before a critical global food shortage. According to the report Hunger in Guinea-Bissau: Causes and Prevention

“Food insecurity is the largest current concern for the Guinea-Bissau government. . . . Overall, 11% of Guinea-Bissau households are food insecure, though this figure spikes to as high as 51% in some areas. Food insecurity is the main cause of undernutrition, in addition to inadequate health services, poor water and sanitation, inadequate infant feeding practices and high illiteracy rates among women.

Most of the families in Guinea-Bissau that are involved in cereal farming, produce cereal for their own consumption. However, this is sometimes not enough to feed an entire family. Only 8% of families have enough cereal to cover their needs for one month and a half, with 48% having cereal stocks to cover just one month of food consumption. If the cereal that these families produce is ruined, more than half would not have anything to eat and would suffer from extreme food insecurity.

According to the Food and Nutrition Security Monitoring System, 28% of the population of Guinea-Bissau does not consume as many vitamins and nutrients as they need. Additionally, in 2019, Guinea-Bissau ranked 99th out of 117 in a study about countries with increased rates of food insecurity. This rank means that Guinea-Bissau has a severe problem with both hunger and malnutrition.”

PREVALENCE OF FOOD INSECURITY BY SECTOR IN GUINEA BISSAU

The Proteus Global Food Security Index ranks Guinea Bissau 148th out of 160 countries. Even though most families are involved in growing rice for their own consumption, only 48% have enough cereal stocks to cover just one month of food consumption, resulting in a dependence on imported food, including rice. In 2020, Guinea-Bissau imported $52.2M in rice, becoming the 86th largest importer of rice in the world. At the same year, rice was the 1st most imported product in Guinea Bissau. Guinea Bissau imports rice primarily from: Pakistan ($24.9M), China ($17.2M), India ($4.26M), Senegal ($3.77M), and United States ($726k).

https://wits.worldbank.org/CountrySnapshot/en/GNB/textview

WHAT THIS MEANS

During the COVID pandemic, Bissau-Guinean economist Aliu Soares Cassama stated, “Our economy has had a deficit in the trade balance for a long time. In other words, we import more and export less. We know that economic agents do not have purchasing power due to the total paralysis of the State, and this situation will further complicate the economic weakness that the country is experiencing.” Because of the global soil extinction crisis and the impending global food shortages, Guinea Bissau, for all the reasons indicated above, will be one of the most vulnerable countries on the planet for starvation if nothing is done now to increase the organic content of its soil and diversify agricultural production to domestic food consumption.

WHAT CAN BE DONE? #SAVESOIL

For any soil to be agriculturally potent, it must have a minimum organic content of 3 to 6%. The average soil organic content of the United States is 1.4%, for Europe 1.2%, for India 0.6% and for Africa 0.3%. No data on the organic content of Guinea Bissau’s soil has been recorded.

Due to the severity of soil extinction and the food crisis which will be devastating to the entire world, a global #savesoil campaign was launched. Save Soil is a global movement bringing together people and leaders to restore Soil Health by instituting national policies worldwide toward increasing the organic content in cultivable Soil. On March 21, Indian mystic Sadhguru embarked from London to India on a 100 day campaign, traveling more than 30,000 km to 26 countries by motorcycle in order to spread awareness and to mobilise 3 billion people to use their voice and give democratically elected leaders and governments a mandate to institute national policies toward increasing the organic content in cultivable soil. After just 28 days, 72 nations have signed policy agreements. Sadhguru was also the keynote speaker at the 15th session of Conference of Parties (COP), that convened in the Ivory Coast from May 9-20. It was organised by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. Leaders from 170 countries attended, including a high-level opening segment, a Heads of States Summit, round tables and interactive dialogue sessions among ministers and other high-ranking officials.

Learn More about the Save Soil movement in Guinea Bissau

Siphiwe Baleka is working to spread awareness on the need to create a comprehensive soil testing program in Guinea Bissau. Because of the current status of Guinea Bissau as described above, you can understand why constant fundraising is needed to help solve the problems in Guinea Bissau. We are the only group of Afrodescendants of Guinea Bissau origin that have a presence on the ground here in Guinea Bissau. You can help us help make a difference in Guinea Bissau by contributing to the

Balanta B’urassa History and Genealogy Society’s 2022 Development Campaign

BBHAGSIA Founder Siphiwe Baleka Promoting the Global #savesoil movement in Guinea Bissau

Friday, May 5, 2022 - Bissau, Guinea Bissau

On Thursday, the Founder of the Balanta B’urassa History and Genealogy Society in America, Siphiwe Baleka, met with Lorenço Monteiro Carvalho de Abreu, Director General of Instituto Nacional de Pesquisa Agraria (INPA) and consultant to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in Guinea Bissau. Mr. Baleka discussed the #savesoil movement and Guinea Bissau’s participation in it and the upcoming 15th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP), being held in Côte d'Ivoire from 9 to 20 May, organized by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. Leaders from 170 countries will attend, including a high-level opening segment, a Summit of Heads of State, roundtables and interactive dialogue sessions between ministers and other high-ranking officials on May 9-10, 2022.

According to Mr. Baleka,

“The #savesoil movement is probably the most important global movement happening at this moment. All over the world, global leaders in all spheres of work as well as tens of millions of people are involved in this 100 day project. Over seventy governments have signed agreements. I was concerned that no one in Guinea Bissau - neither the leaders, the NGOs, the media nor the people on social media we’re talking about it. So I decided to take responsibility and started posting about it on social media to all the Guinea Bissau Facebook groups, writing letters to the media, and now I’m meeting with people involved in agriculture and policy-making. Really, it’s everyone’s responsibility, I just took the lead to set the example.”

On Friday, May 6th, Mr. Baleka met with Mario Alfredo Mendonca, Director of Commerce and Promotion for the Cashew-LIFT Project. On January 29, 2020 the U.S. Ambassador to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau, Tulinabo Salama Mushingi attended the launch of the USDA’s Food for Progress regional cashew value chain project, also called the Linking Infrastructure, Finance, and Farms to Cashews (LIFFT-Cashew). The program implementing a $38 million, six-year project in The Gambia, Senegal, and Guinea-Bissau will enhance the regional cashew value chain to improve the trade of processed cashews in local and international markets. “Sixty-three percent of the funds for Guinea Bissau are earmarked for road construction,” Mr. Mendonca emphasized.

Besides learning some of the details of how the Cashew- Lift project works, Mr. Baleka also discussed the potential of certifying the soil content in f the land farmed by the cooperatives and becoming early adopters of a marketing program that would include “organic soil content” on product landing.

“With such labelling, and provided that the organic soil content reaches a minimum 3%, Guinea Bissau farmers could enjoy premium pricing from an increasingly ‘soil conscious’ international market,” said Baleka.

”To do this, it will be necessary to develop a comprehensive soil testing program specifically designed to help Guinea Bissau reach the 3% minimum that is being accepted as the critical standard globally”.

https://projectblue.blob.core.windows.net/media/Default/Imported%20Publication%20Docs/Soil%20Organic%20Matter.pdf

Save Soil is a global movement bringing together people and leaders to restore Soil Health by instituting national policies worldwide toward increasing the organic content in cultivable Soil.

Why 3.5 billion people? 

In democracies, governments craft policies based on what the majority of people want. 3.5 billion people is 60% of the world’s voting population. 

For any soil to be agriculturally potent, it must have a minimum organic content of 3 to 6%

How much damage has already happened to soil? 

● 62% of India’s soil has an organic content of less than 0.5%. 

● The US has lost 50% of its topsoil. 

● In Europe, 75% of the soil has an organic content of less than 2% 

● Two thirds of Africa is well on track to losing its arable lands by 2030 

● Worldwide: 52% of agricultural soils are already degraded - ELD initiative, 2015 

● By 2050, 90% of Earth's soil could be degraded - UNCCD, 2020 

Soil organic content:

United States 1.4%

Europe 1.2%

Indian 0.6%

Africa 0.3%

Guinea Bissau -?????

When we grow one ton of crop, it means that we have removed one ton of topsoil. What are the means to put it back? We were putting it back naturally when there were animals and trees on the farm because green litter from the trees and animal waste are the only ways to put back organic content into soil.

87% of the planet's life, including you, me, and a multitude of microbes, worms, birds, animals, and trees are living on approximately 39 inches of topsoil. That is the average topsoil that you have on the planet. But the level of degradation that has happened in the last 70 years is scary. The amount of biomass in the soil has come down by around 80% in the last 50 years.

What is keeping you alive is microbial life on all levels.

The human body contains trillions of microorganisms — outnumbering human cells by 10 to 1. Because of their small size, however, microorganisms make up only about 1 to 3 percent of the body's mass (in a 200-pound adult, that's 2 to 6 pounds of bacteria), but play a vital role in human health.

HMP researchers also reported that this plethora of microbes contribute more genes responsible for human survival than humans contribute. Where the human genome carries some 22,000 protein-coding genes, researchers estimate that the human microbiome contributes some 8 million unique protein-coding genes or 360 times more bacterial genes than human genes.

This bacterial genomic contribution is critical for human survival. Genes carried by bacteria in the gastro-intestinal tract, for example, allow humans to digest foods and absorb nutrients that otherwise would be unavailable.

Humans don't have all the enzymes we need to digest our own diet,” said Lita Proctor, Ph.D., NHGRI's HMP program manager. “Microbes in the gut break down many of the proteins, lipids and carbohydrates in our diet into nutrients that we can then absorb. Moreover, the microbes produce beneficial compounds, like vitamins and anti-inflammatories that our genome cannot produce.” Anti-inflammatories are compounds that regulate some of the immune system's response to disease, such as swelling.

Globally around 24 billion tons of fertile soil and 27,000 bio-species are lost each year

There are no trees. There is not enough organic activity in the soil to absorb the water. If the water had percolated down, the wells, ponds, and rivers would have water. Since rainwater is not retained, a drought is bound to happen after some time.

If it is in the right condition, soil can hold 800% more water than all the rivers put together. But as the organic value in the soil goes down, its ability to hold water also goes down.

India has about 160 million hectares of arable land, but nearly forty percent of this soil is labeled as distressed soil. That means in another twenty-five to thirty years’ time, we may not be able to grow the food that we need in this nation. When there is no water and food, the level of civil strife that will happen will demolish the nation in many different ways. People from those rural areas where water completely runs out are going to migrate in large numbers into urban centers. This is not far away. With no infrastructure, they will sit on the streets, but for how long? When there is no food and water, they will break into homes. I am not some kind of a doomsayer, but in the next eight to ten years, you will see these situations unless we do something drastic right now.

AN OPEN LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT, PRIME MINISTER, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND THE PEOPLE OF THE REPUBLIC OF GUINEA BISSAU 

Globally around 24 billion tons of fertile soil and 27,000 bio-species are lost each year. 

Scientists are saying that by 2045, the planet will have 40% less food for 9.2 billion people and that there are only 40 to 60 harvests left before a critical global food shortage.

For any soil to be agriculturally potent, it must have a minimum organic content of 3 to 6%. The average soil organic content of the United States is 1.4%, for Europe 1.2%, for India 0.6% and for Africa 0.3%. I am unable to find any data on the organic content of Guinea Bissau’s soil.

Due to the severity of soil extinction and the food crisis which will be devastating to the entire world, a global #savesoil campaign was launched. On March 21, Indian mystic Sadhguru embarked from London to India on a 100 day campaign, traveling more than 30,000 km to 26 countries by motorcycle in order  to spread awareness and to mobilise 3 billion people to use their voice and give democratically elected leaders and governments a mandate to institute national policies toward increasing the organic content in cultivable soil. After just 28 days, 72 nations have signed policy agreements. 

I am now using my voice as a citizen of Guinea Bissau to make sure that Guinea Bissau participates in the global #savesoil campaign since the people of Guinea Bissau are among those who will suffer the most if nothing is done and will benefit the most if the correct actions and policies are taken now. 

Towards this end, the 15th session of Conference of Parties (COP), is convening in the Ivory Coast from May 9-20, organised by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. Leaders from 170 countries will be attending, including a high-level opening segment, a Heads of States Summit, round tables and interactive dialogue sessions among ministers and other high-ranking officials on 9 and 10 May 2022.​

I am now asking the responsible leaders of Guinea Bissau to do the following:

1. Identify the delegation that will be representing Guinea Bissau at the 15th COP in the Ivory Coast;

2. Inform the population of the status of Guinea Bissau’s soil and especially its current organic content;

3. Explain how people can get their soil tested for organic content.

4. Make widely available the plan to increase the organic content of the soil to a minimum of 3%;

5. Provide the current expenditure on soil conservation as well as the cost needed to achieve the minimum 3%;

6. Create a Guinea Bissau Soil Content Task Force.

Respectfully, Siphiwe Baleka,

PLEASE SUPPORT MY WORK HERE IN GUINEA BISSAU

#savesoilguineabissau

#protegiterraguineabissau

#savesoil

#protegiterra

@sadhguru

@consciousplanetmovement

BBHAGSIA President Siphiwe Baleka Joins Launch of the Impact Hub Candidate Bissau

Anicet Ateba of Semente Verde and Impact Hub Bissau with Siphiwe Baleka, entrepreneur and Founder, BBHAGSIA

Bissau, Guinea Bissau, April 20 - The Impact Hub Candidate Bissau in partnership and funded by the Mava Foundation and PNUD Guiné-Bissau invited the entire entrepreneurial ecosystem to attend its launch at the National School of Management (ENA). In attendance was Siphiwe Baleka, a successful entrepreneur and founder of the Balanta B’urassa History and Genealogy Society in America.

Siphiwe Baleka is known as “The Fitness Guru to the Trucking Industry” and has appeared in Men’s Health magazine, Sports Illustrated, the Huffington Post, Good Morning America, CBS Evening News, NPR, CNN, NBC Access Daily and BBC. He served as the North American Regional  Director of the African Sports Ventures Group as well as the Senior Heritage Ambassador of the United House of Ancestry, In 2020 he launched the Decade of Return Initiative of the Government of Guinea Bissau. Many of his interviews, including the Business Leadership Series: Be an Intentional Leader podcast and The Unstoppable Entrepreneur podcast are available here. Recently, Siphiwe has gained international attention for attempting to represent Guinea Bissau in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and become the oldest swimmer in Olympic History.

”I came to Guinea Bissau to help my ancestral homeland,” said Siphiwe Baleka. “The best way to do that is to invest time and energy into the young people. I am doing that through sports as the Interim President of the Guinea Bissau Swimming Federation and through the Supporting Girls Sports in Guinea Bissau campaign. Now I look forward to helping this generation’s young entrepreneurs throught the Impact Hub.”

“As a young man, I had many great coaches and mentors, both in sports and a few in business. Guidance from those who have already achieved success is invaluable. It takes a special kind of spirit and mindset to be an entrepreneur, to be a champion, and I will do my part to nurture that,” added Baleka.

Team SDGB Celebrates Birthday of Guinea Bissau Swimming Federation Interim President Siphiwe Baleka

April 2, 2022 Hala Hotel &Aqua Park, Bissau, Guinea Bissau

The Sociedade Desportiva da Guiné-Bissau (S.D.G.B) girls’ futbol team made a surprise visit to the Hala Hotel & Aqua Park where the Interim President of the Federação de Natação da Guiné-Bissau (Guinea Bissau Swimming Feseration), Siphiwe Baleka is training to compete in the African Swimming Federation Zone 2 Championships in Dakar, Senegal May 27-29.

Mr. Baleka visited the girls futbol team on January 16 to give them a motivational speech to start the new season. Last year, their first as a team, they lost the championship game in what was generally perceived to be unfair circumstances. Since Mr. Baleka’s motivational speech, he has served as the team’s patron and they have been on a winning streak. The team wanted to return the support and came to celebrate Mr. Baleka’s upcoming 51st birthday (April 14) and encourage his training.

The S.D.G.B girls team has now qualified for the next round of the championships and are waiting the results of this weekend’s games to see who they will play.

“We will most likely play in Bafata,” said Sana Nharo, the team’s coach. “We will need transportation and overnight accommodations. Without sponsorship like the big teams who are sponsored by Benéfica and others, this becomes difficult for us.”

Coach Sana explained that before receiving support from Mr. Baleka, the girls felt dehumanised. They had to show up to the games without proper uniforms and equipment. Sometimes they couldn’t pay for the transportation all the way to the playing field and they would have to walk. When the team can’t afford accommodations, they have to resort to tents. Because of the fundraising this year and the support of a lot of people in the United States, the girls have new uniforms, including socks and their morale is much better.

“They deserve to win the championship,” according to Coach Sana. “They just need the support that ‘big’ teams get.”

Siphiwe Baleka talks to Team S.D.G.B

Mr. Baleka wants to raise another $300 so that the girls can travel to the next game in a proper bus and get a good night’s sleep at a proper hotel. If you can, please donate to the GoFundMe campaign to support these girls in Guinea Bissãu.