Situated on the western coast of Africa, Guinea Bissau was once poised to attain a prosperous economy and enjoy a multi-party political system. However, periods of bloody civil war and ongoing political instability have impacted the economy profoundly, leaving Guinea-Bissau one of the poorest countries in  the world. The vast majority of Guinea-Bissau’s 1.6 million citizens eke out a living on small subsistence farms, often earning just enough income to provide necessities for their families. More than two thirds of the population lives below the poverty line. Recently, the combination of coastal geography, an impoverished economy, and a government plagued by instability have made Guinea Bissau attractive as a  a point for international drug trafficking and a source point for human trafficking.