International Crisis Group (Brussels)
29 January 2009
press release
Despite Guinea-Bissau’s widely praised elections in 2008, allegations of attempted assassination and coup d’état heighten the need to guarantee stability and institutional reforms.
Guinea-Bissau: Building a Real Stability Pact, the latest policy briefing from the International Crisis Group, argues that the West African country’s new prime minister, Carlos Gomes Junior, has an opportunity to carry out the administrative and political measures needed to strengthen the state, stabilise the economy and fight drug trafficking. But he will need to base his approach on political dialogue with President Nino Vieira, the army and rivals within his own party.
“Guinea-Bissau’s institutions remain structurally feeble”, says Richard Moncrieff, Crisis Group’s West Africa Project Director. “Without a real commitment on the part of the ruling elite to end the intrigues and violence that are so damaging to the country’s prospects, it will remain unstable and unable to cope with rampant corruption or change its status as a key drugs transiting country”.
Notwithstanding the successful November 2008 legislative elections, the permanent threat of military intervention in politics adds to the risks of government paralysis. An alleged coup d’état in July 2008 and an alleged attempt to kill President Vieira one week after the elections illustrate the country’s fragility. The elections resulted in a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly for the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) and its leader, Gomes Junior. Nevertheless, there are serious fissures within the party; Vieira and Gomes Junior are bitter foes, and shifts in alliances within PAIGC could bring down the prime minister before the presidential elections scheduled for 2010.
Prime Minister Gomes Junior should initiate talks with the president and the ruling party, with a view to producing a program to which all stakeholders commit. A similar dialogue needs to be opened with the military leadership on speeding up security sector reform.
Regional partners and donor countries should press all political actors to take part in the above dialogues and support their conclusions. Donors should release money promised for security sector reform as soon as possible and set up an effective mechanism to coordinate their efforts in that area. The UN Peace Building Commission (PBC) should help keep promised donor aid (both financial and technical) flowing, in particular for security sector and administrative reforms and the fight against drug trafficking.
“Firm commitment is needed from all political and military actors”, warns François Grignon, Crisis Group’s Africa Program Director, “to engage in a dialogue directed at supporting reforms and to seize, while it is still there, the outstretched hand of donors”.
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D incident in guinea bissau should be an eye-opner 2 all african so-call leader.this s what wait 4 them, ie d dictator,who over state in power n re nt doing thing correctly or rightly.
My prayers are for Nino - a friend to Guineans everywhere - that his soul rest in perfect peace; for the families devastated by his loss and the loss of Tagme Na Waie - these sons of the soil. Another proof that we MUST learn to resolve differences; we MUST put national development first. PLEASE join me in prayers of peace for Guinea-Bissau!
I am surprise to hear the bad News from my friends back home in Guinea Bissau. This country needs stability. It’s a few elements who are really causing problems in this country and the people need peace.
SAD, SAD AND SAD THAT AN AFRICAN PRESIDENT RECEIVES JUSTICE IN SUCH A MANNER. THERE IS NO GOOD WAY FORWARD FOR AFRICA UNTIL THE MILITARY IS MADE TO PAY FOR THE PROBLEMS CAUSED SINCE THE END OF COLONIALISM. MOST OF OUR POLITICAL LEADERS ARE DEARLY RESPONSIBLE IN THE ARMING OF THE MILITARY IN A BID TO SAFEGUARD THEIR CORRUPT REGIMES AT THE SUFFERING MERCY OF THE POOR. A NEW CHAPTER IN THE POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT OF THE MILITARY IN AFRICA HAS TO BE RE- WRITTEN. ECOWAS, THE AU AND THE UNITED NATIONS HAVE TO SAVE THE PEOPLE OF AFRICA FROM THE HANDS OF THESE "KHAKI BOYS" WHO ONLY LIVE ON TAX PAYERS SWEATS. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. AFRICA NEEDS SOME WAY FORWARD. TAMBA KORGBA-FAIDUWOH FELDGASSE 17 CH-3946 TURTMANN SWITZERLAND TEL:-0041-274732101 MOBILE:-0041-798394773 EMAIL:- takorfai51@hotmail.com WEB: WWW.FORUM-MIGRATION.CH
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