Juliana Taiwo
23 June 2009
Abuja — Heads of States and Government, at the end of 36th meeting of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of Government, yesterday agreed to give Guinea Bissau $3.5 million to clear arrears of salaries owed members of the armed forces and another $350,000 to plug funding gap for its elections.
This was contained in the communiqué read by ECOWAS President, Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas.
The ECOWAS leaders also agreed to provide logistic support in the form of transport and communication to support conduct of the election at the request of government of Guinea Bissau.
The meeting condemned the March 2009 killing of late President Joao Bernado Vieira and the late Chief of Defence Staff, General Tagne Na Waie.
"In order to end the prevailing atmosphere of impunity behind the killings and other similar incidents, the Heads of State and Government urged ECOWAS Commission and the African Union, with the technical support of the United Nations, to accelerate the setting up of the International Investigation Commission, to investigate the killings, in order to restore respect for justice and help create an atmosphere conducive for national reconciliation," the communiqué read.
The meeting also urged various stakeholders, particularly members of the security services, to take all necessary measures to create a peaceful atmosphere that will guarantee that the June 28 presidential election is free, transparent and credible.
The session also reviewed other political developments in the region, particularly the situation in Niger, and expressed concern "with recent developments around the Constitution," and rejected any attempt to maintain power through unconstitutional means, citing the imperative to respect the country's Constitution and the 2001 regional Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.
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