The Federal Republic of Germany recognised Guinea-Bissau as a state on 12 August 1974 and the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1975. Before the end of the East-West conflict, the German Democratic Republic in particular was very active in socialist Guinea-Bissau. Many people from Guinea-Bissau, including President Malam Bacai Sanhá, who died in 2012, studied in the former GDR.

Relations with Guinea-Bissau are looked after by the German Embassy in Dakar, the capital of Senegal.

Together with the EU, the United Nations – in particular via the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) – and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Germany supports the country’s political stabilisation and economic development. The German Government also provides funding for projects by civil society organisations (the World Peace Service, Caritas) and micro-projects by local organisations.