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7764th Security Council Meeting: Situation in Guinea-Bissau
Political leaders in Guinea-Bissau must put aside partisan considerations and focus on national interests and the welfare of the suffering population, the Security Council heard today during a briefing on the situation in that West African country.
“The ongoing political impasse can and must be resolved,” Modibo Touré, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS) told the 15-member body.
The parties to the current political crisis should be urged to honour their commitment to make the necessary sacrifices and concessions to end the parliamentary standoff, Mr. Touré said, adding that steps must be taken to put the Government machinery back on track.
Ongoing consultations had aimed at breaking the impasse within the People’s National Assembly, which had not yet considered the Government’s programme that had been in place for three months. Subsequently, the National Assembly President had started a mediation exercise between parliamentary groups of the two main parties and negotiations had begun to reach consensus aimed at finding a solution to the stalemate, Mr. Touré reported.
He went on to say that it was important to underscore, however, that, without public approval of a programme, it would be difficult for the Government to introduce reforms to implement policies and strategies that promoted economic growth and improved the living conditions of people.
Also addressing the Council was Antonio de Aguiar Patriota (Brazil), Chair of the Guinea-Bissau configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission, who said the situation had advanced considerably since the coup d’état in 2012. Nevertheless, the country’s precarious political situation was still a source of concern beyond its borders. “In a region that has seen great progress in consolidating peace and stability through democratic means, Guinea-Bissau remains a weak link,” he said.
If viable solutions for effective governance were not found soon, he said, it would become harder to steer the country back on track. An inclusive and fruitful political dialogue would help pave the way to longer-term policies, including a possible constitutional review.
Luis Bermúdez (Uruguay), representative of the Chair of the Security Council Committee establish pursuant to resolution 2048 (2012) concerning Guinea-Bissau, briefed the Council on the Committee’s most recent meeting, noting that the political situation was less encouraging than at the time of the Secretary-General’s previous report. The crisis did not make it possible to implement significant reforms in Guinea-Bissau and weakened the country’s ability to deal with crime and terrorism, while also dissuading international donors from fulfilling their pledges.
The representative of Guinea Bissau, meantime, told that Council that citizens were aware that the major work for peace and stability remained their primary responsibility. She went on to express concern that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Security Mission in Guinea-Bissau would be leaving, saying that the international community’s financial support to help alleviate the immediate socioeconomic difficulties on the population was very important and much needed.
The representative Timor-Leste also delivered a statement on behalf of the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries.
The meeting began at 10:10 a.m. and ended at 10:48 a.m.
