Transport in Guinea-Bissau Transport in Guinea-Bissau Transport infrastructure in Guinea-Bissau is basic, with most roads outside the capital being unpaved. There are no railways in Guinea-Bissau. In 1998 an agreement was signed between Portugal and Guinea-Bissau for construction of railway to Guinea. The Trans–West African Coastal Highway crosses Guinea-Bissau, connecting it to Banjul (the Gambia), Conakry (Guinea), and eventually to 11 other nations of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Several rivers are accessible to coastal shipping in Guinea-Bissau. In 1999 no merchant vessels were operating. The main airport serving the country, and the only one with scheduled commercial service, is
Banjul the mainland at the other side of the river. Banjul takes its name from the Mandé people who gathered specific fibres on the island, which were used in the manufacture of ropes. Bang julo is the Mandinka (Mande) word for rope fibre. The mispronunciation led to the word Banjul. In 1651 Banjul was leased by The Duke of Courland and Semigallia (German: "Herzog von Kurland und Semgallen") from the King of Kombo, as part of the Couronian colonization. On 23 April 1816, the King of Kombo ceded Banjul Island to Alexander Grant, the British commandant. Grant founded Banjul as a