Legislative crises in Guinea Bissau will soon be over- ECOWAS

An agreeable solution seems to be on the way in Guinea Bissau,
as parties involved in the legislative crisis have pledged to
embrace peace.

Guinea Bissau has been embroiled in political crisis after the
legislative election on March 10, 2019 over power sharing between
the ruling party and the opposition political parties.

But with the intervention of the leadership of Economic
Community of West African States (ECOWAS) normalcy seems not to be
far.

President Muhammadu Buhari, who is the Chairman of the regional
body, had waded into the crisis, sending a Special Envoy, Mr.
Geoffrey Onyeama, the Minister of Foreign Affairs to interface with
the parties involved in the crisis with a view to finding amicable
resolution to the crisis.

Onyeama met with the parties on Wednesday where he was able to
secure their commitment to peace.

The minister, who is also the Chairman, ECOWAS Council of
Ministers, led the ECOWAS peace delegation.

He expressed optimism that with the commitments made by all the
parties, the issues will be resolved soon.

“President Muhammadu Buhari directed us to come here and nip
this in the bud – sort this out very quickly.

“We have had excellent discussions with all the main
protagonists, the President, the Prime Minister and the leaders of
all the political parties.

“We are very happy with the way it went, and commitments that
were made and we believe that if those commitments are respected
and kept this problem will be over in a matter of a week or
two.”

The delegation met with the President of Guinea Bissau, Jose
Mario Vaz, the Prime Minister Aristides Gomez, President of the
National Assembly, Cipriano Cassama and various parliamentary
groups in the country’s National Assembly.

A communiqué was reached at the end of the meeting which was
read by the President of ECOWAS Commission, Jean –Claude Kassi
Brou, who is also a member of the delegation.

Brou urged all political actors to avoid extremist’s positions
and to focus on the interest of the country.

According to the communiqué, they must find solutions in a very
open and constructive dialogue.

“The delegation insisted that the various parliamentary groups
in the National Assembly must finalise very urgently the bureau of
the parliament taking into account the vote of the people of Guinea
Bissau.

“The delegation also encouraged the installation of the new
government following the nomination of a new Prime Minister in
order to deal with the urgent matter of economic and social
issues.’’

The communiqué reiterated ECOWAS commitment to help Guinea
Bissau to pursue its reforms.

ECOWAS also pledged its support to the government that will be
formed in Guinea Bissau to ensure that the country achieves the
desired peace and development.

Other members of the peace delegation led by Mr. Onyeama are
Naby Kiridi Bangoura, Minister of State and Secretary General of
the Presidency in Guinea Conakry, representing Alpha Conde ,
President of Guinea Conakry who is also the Chairman, ECOWAS
Mediation Committee on Guinea Bissau.

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