Report of the Secretary-General on the restoration
of constitutional order in Guinea-Bissau
- Introduction
1. The present report is submitted pursuant to
Security Council resolutions 2048 (2012) and 2103 (2013), and covers
major political, security, human rights, humanitarian and
socioeconomic developments since my report of 6 May 2013
(S/2013/262).
II. Restoration of and respect for constitutional
order
A. Political situation
1. Overview of the political situation in the
country
2. During the reporting period, the key political
stakeholders of Guinea-Bissau reached consensus on arrangements for
the remainder of the transition. International partners also pursued
joint efforts towards assisting the country to address the challenges
it faces.
3. On 30 April, representatives of the signatories
of the transitional political pact and the political agreement of May
2012 agreed on key steps towards the restoration of constitutional
order, namely, (a) that the political transition should end on 31
December 2013 and general elections should be held in November 2013;
(b) that an inclusive Transitional Government should be appointed;
and (c) that the National Assembly should elect the President of the
National Electoral Commission on a proposal from the Supreme Council
of Magistrates. To enhance the inclusiveness of the political
consultations, non-parliamentary actors such as political parties,
religious leaders and civil society organizations were included in
the parliamentary commission, which was established by the National
Assembly to review the transitional political pact and the political
agreement of May 2012.
4. Meanwhile, negotiations continued on the
formation of a more inclusive
Transitional Government. As a result, the two
biggest parties in Parliament, the African Party for the Independence
of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) and the Party for Social Renewal
(PRS) signed a memorandum of understanding on 17 May, in which they
committed themselves to supporting the end of the transition by 31
December 2013, and to the formation of an inclusive Transitional
Government. S/2013/499 2/10 13-42453 The two parties also emphasized
the need for a framework for dialogue and consultations that would go
beyond the transitional period. They further agreed to retain Mr. Rui
Duarte de Barros as Transitional Prime Minister.
5. The Transitional Prime Minister initiated
consultations on the formation of a new Transitional Government on 27
May, while the National Assembly held an extraordinary session from
27 to 29 May to discuss the transitional instruments. The Assembly
adopted a Transitional Pact and Political Agreement, a Transition
Road Map, and an Agreement on Principles for the Restoration of
Constitutional Normality. The new Transitional Pact and Political
Agreement provides, inter alia, for an amnesty for those involved in
the military coup of 12 April 2012. It also provides for the
establishment of a consultative council (Conselho de Concertação e
Consulta) as a forum for political and social dialogue for the
signatories of the Transitional Pact and Political Agreement, and for
the re-establishment of the Parliamentary Commission on National
Reconciliation.
6. My Special Representative for Guinea-Bissau,
José Ramos-Horta, intensified his good offices, presenting national
stakeholders with options for overcoming their differences in an
inclusive and constructive fashion. On 6 June, reflecting the
agreement between PAIGC and PRS, the Transitional President appointed
a more inclusive Transitional Government led by Mr. Barros, who was
retained as Transitional Prime Minister. The new Cabinet consists of
34 members, four of whom are women.
7. On 12 June, the National Assembly held an
extraordinary session and elected Supreme Court Judge Augusto Mendes
as President of the National Electoral Commission. It also elected
Appeal Court Judge José Pedro Sambú as the Executive Secretary, and
Katia Maria Augusta Lopes and Idriça Djaló as the Deputy Executive
Secretaries of the Commission. The new leadership was sworn in on 14
June. On 28 June, the Transitional President issued a decree
announcing that presidential and legislative elections would be held
on 24 November 2013.
8. On 3 July, the Transitional Prime Minister
presented the programme of the Transitional Government to the National Assembly.
The programme focuses on the restoration of constitutional order and
includes (a) the organization of presidential and legislative
elections on 24 November 2013, and the revision of the Electoral Law
and the overall legal framework to ensure a more transparent
electoral process; (b) steps for the adoption of a legal framework
for the country’s first-ever municipal elections in 2014; (c)
defence, security, justice and public administration reforms; (d)
economic stabilization and transparency in fiscal management, the
normalization of cooperation with international financial
institutions, the promotion of agricultural and infrastructural
development, and preparations for the holding of a donor round table
in 2014; and (e) the continuing promotion of social harmony. The
programme also stresses the Transitional Government’s determination
to improve the country’s image and to strengthen its participation
in subregional, regional and international organizations.
9. Following intensive consultations between my
Special Representative and the transitional authorities, on 24 July,
the Transitional Government created the National Commission for
Planning and Strategic Coordination, whose task is to define the
priorities for the remainder of the transition and its immediate
aftermath. The Commission will develop a plan for the remainder of
the transition that addresses needs in the areas of food security,
health and education, outline priorities for the first year of the
government that will be formed following the presidential and
legislative elections in November 2013, and plan a donor round table
in 2014.
2. Overview of the human rights situation in the
country
10. During the reporting period, the human rights
situation remained largely
unchanged; a number of cases of human rights
violations and abuses were reported.
The limited capacity of the security and justice
sectors contributed to a persisting culture of impunity and lack of
accountability in the country.
11. On 25 April, the Regional Military Court
rendered its verdict in the case of the 17 suspects arrested in
connection with the incident at the Bissalanca air force base in
Bissau on 21 October 2012. Nine of the defendants were convicted of
treason and dealing in prohibited weapons, and sentenced to three to
five years of imprisonment, amid concerns over the independence and
impartiality of the court. The nine convicted suspects appealed the
verdict, and the case was still pending during the reporting period.
Those convicted remained in detention at the air force base.
12. From 8 to 11 July, the Assistant
Secretary-General for Human Rights, Ivan Šimonović, conducted a
four-day mission to Guinea-Bissau at the invitation of the
Transitional Government, to discuss the human rights situation in the
country. He met with the Transitional President and the Transitional
Prime Minister, the Speaker of the Parliament, the Ministers of
Justice and the Interior of the Transitional Government, the
Presidents of the Supreme Court and the Superior Military Court, the
President of the National Human Rights Commission, civil society
organizations, women’s organizations, and international partners
present in Bissau.
13. The Assistant Secretary-General also
participated in the National Conference on Impunity, Justice and
Human Rights from 10 to 12 July. The Conference was held pursuant to
the recommendations of the Bamako Declaration and its strategic
framework, which were adopted on 4 December 2011 by the Regional
Conference on Impunity, Justice and Human Rights held in Mali.
Guinea-Bissau is the first participating State to convene such a
conference.
14. The Conference adopted a range of
recommendations, including proposals for (a) reforms in the justice,
public administration, security and defence sectors; (b) the
establishment of a commission of inquiry into political
assassinations and other politically motivated crimes; (c) the
ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court;
and (d) the promotion of national unity and good citizenship through
comprehensive human rights education.
15. In his meetings with national stakeholders,
the Assistant Secretary-General emphasized the importance of ensuring
freedom of expression and peaceful assembly before, during and after
the elections. He also noted that those guarantees were vital not
only for the credibility of the elections but also to foster
longer-term stability. He drew particular attention to the issues of
violence and discrimination against women, and recommended the
adoption of measures to increase women’s participation in public
and political life, including the introduction of minimum quotas for
women in the next elections. He also urged the national authorities
to provide greater protection for human rights defenders,
journalists, victims and witnesses, and emphasized the urgency of
ensuring effective and credible progress in the investigations into
political assassinations and other cases of political violence prior
to the elections of 2013, in order to deter future attacks.
16. During the period under review, the
prohibition of press conferences, interviews or communiqués relating to the coup
d’état of 12 April 2012 and other “cases under investigation”,
as announced in a communiqué issued by the Prosecutor General on 29 September 2012, remained in force. However, no new overt attempts to
curtail the freedom of the media were reported.
- Regional and international efforts towards the restoration of and respect for constitutional order
17. On 10 May, the Chair of the Guinea-Bissau
configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission convened a meeting of
the configuration in New York. During the meeting, my Special
Representative appealed to the international community, including the
Peacebuilding Commission, to re-engage with Guinea-Bissau. He noted
that the Commission and Guinea-Bissau should revise their instrument
of engagement (revised strategic framework), which could be initiated
before the upcoming elections. He concluded by expressing hope that
the Peacebuilding Fund would be able to provide its share of support
to the ongoing peacebuilding efforts.
18. On that occasion, the Chair affirmed that the
configuration would continue to follow closely the situation in
Guinea-Bissau and support, in close coordination with my Special
Representative, efforts to find a lasting solution to the political
crisis. She also indicated that once meaningful steps were taken to
restore constitutional order, such as the formation of a more
inclusive Transitional Government and the adoption of a new “regime
pact” and a road map for holding elections by the end of 2013, the
configuration would resume its engagement with Guinea-Bissau.
19. On 16 May, the European Union released a
communiqué following a meeting with the Economic Community of West
African States (ECOWAS) held in Brussels, expressing its readiness to
support elections in Guinea-Bissau once all the requirements were
met. The communiqué also indicated the European Union and ECOWAS
agreement that meaningful and irreversible reforms were essential for
the country’s stabilization and prosperity, starting with the
complete restructuring of the defence and security forces,
particularly the renewal of the top military leadership, and
far-reaching reforms in the security and justice sectors and the
political system.
The European Union and ECOWAS also expressed grave
concern about the worrying infiltration in State structures of
organized crime and illicit drug trafficking networks, noting that
the detention of the former Navy Chief of Staff, Bubo Na Tchuto, in
the United States on drug trafficking charges and the indictment by
the United States of the current Chief of General Staff, General
António Indjai, for alleged trafficking illustrated the gravity of
the problem. They stressed that persons linked to any further
violence or anti-constitutional and destabilizing activities would be
held accountable by the international community. They commended the
renewed involvement of the international community in Guinea-Bissau,
in particular through the close collaboration between the African
Union, the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries (CPLP), ECOWAS,
the European Union and the United Nations. Finally, they stressed the
importance of the preservation and good management of the natural
resources of Guinea-Bissau in accordance with applicable laws. On 18
June, the Council of the European Union decided to maintain
restrictions against 21 military personnel of Guinea-Bissau involved
in the coup of 12 April 2012, including the leaders of the military.
20. International partners welcomed the formation
of the new Transitional Government on 6 June. The Government of Portugal,
on 11 June, described the move as a positive development that created
expectations of democratic normalization.
21. The African Union Peace and Security Council
and the European Union Political and Security Committee, at their sixth
annual joint consultative meeting, held in Addis Ababa on 11 June,
urged the new Transitional Government to prioritize preparations for
democratic elections leading to the restoration of constitutional
order before the end of the year. The two organs stressed the need to
implement security sector reform and to fight organized crime,
illicit drug trafficking and illegal fishing. They also stressed the
need to protect human rights, to promote the rule of law and to end
impunity in the country. In addition, they highlighted the importance
of the preservation and management of Guinea-Bissau’s natural
resources, including the sustainable exploitation of marine and land
resources. They commended the joint efforts of the African Union,
ECOWAS, CPLP, the European Union and the United Nations towards the
restoration of constitutional order in Guinea-Bissau.
22. The second joint assessment mission of the
African Union, ECOWAS, CPLP, the European Union and the United
Nations was conducted in Bissau from 8 to 11 July. In addition to the
original five entities, the International Organization of la
Francophonie participated in the mission. The mission met with the
transitional authorities, political parties, civil society
organizations, women’s groups and the diplomatic corps accredited
to Guinea-Bissau in order to receive an update on the current
political, security and socioeconomic situation. The mission was
encouraged by the considerable progress on the transitional process,
including the approval of the consensual revised Transitional Pact
and Political Agreement, the appointment of the President and members
of the National Electoral Commission and the designation of 24
November 2013 as the date for the elections. National stakeholders
were unanimously of the view that the problems of Guinea-Bissau will
not end with the elections, as the structural causes of the recurring
political crises in the country will need to be fundamentally
addressed. Some of the stakeholders strongly expressed the view that,
in order to ensure sustainable stability in the medium to long term,
it was necessary to maintain a culture of inclusive and broad-based
government after the forthcoming elections. The mission recommended
reviving the International Contact Group on Guinea-Bissau in the
coming months, including the establishment of its Bissau-based
chapter. It also recommended the establishment of a follow-up
mechanism integrating the Bissau-based representatives of the African
Union, the United Nations, ECOWAS, and the European Union. The
mission encouraged CPLP and the International Organization of la
Francophonie to deploy representatives in Bissau.
23. The Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS
welcomed the signing of the revised transitional instruments in a
communiqué issued on 18 July at their forty-third ordinary session,
held in Abuja. They urged the authorities of Guinea-Bissau to ensure
the holding of presidential and legislative elections on 24 November
2013, as scheduled. They also reiterated their call on the African
Union and other international partners to lift the sanctions imposed
on Guinea-Bissau following the coup of 12 April 2012, and to resume
bilateral cooperation with the country. They directed the ECOWAS
Commission to take urgent steps, in close consultation with other
international partners, to resume the meetings of the International
Contact Group on Guinea-Bissau. Finally, they extended the mandate of
the ECOWAS Mission in Guinea-Bissau (ECOMIB) for another 12
months, until 16 May 2014.
24. My Special Representative attended the
eighteenth regular meeting of the Council of Ministers of the
Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries in Maputo on 18 July. The
Council adopted a declaration on the situation in Guinea-Bissau
reiterating the Community’s “unconditional” support for
Guinea-Bissau and the importance of coordinating its efforts with
other international partners. The Council’s declaration also noted
that the lack of effective civilian oversight over the defence and
security forces threatens the political process and the functioning
of State institutions. The Council urged political actors in
Guinea-Bissau to ensure the holding of elections with full respect
for democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms, and to create
conditions for the safe return and freedom of all citizens in exile,
while fighting impunity and drug trafficking. In addition, the
Council decided that CPLP would appoint a Special Representative to
Guinea-Bissau.
- Efforts towards a democratic electoral process
25. Pursuant to Security Council resolution 2103
(2013) in which the Council mandated the United Nations Integrated
Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS), inter alia, to
assist in creating an environment conducive to the holding of free,
fair and transparent elections, I dispatched a needs assessment
mission to Bissau from 3 to 16 July. The mission, which was composed
of representatives of the Electoral Affairs Division of the
Department of Political Affairs, the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) and UNIOGBIS, met with a broad range of
interlocutors, including both national and international
stakeholders. The mission took note of the stated commitment of the
Transitional Government to conduct the elections by the announced
date of 24 November 2013.
It however observed that there was limited
activity in preparation for the elections, and that public debate on
the elections had largely focused on modalities for conducting the
registration of voters, reiterating previous concerns about the
existing manual registration system. The mission advised the
Transitional Government to consider improvements to the existing
manual registration system, to make up for the identified
deficiencies, rather than introducing the biometric system,
considering the short time frame of the remainder of the transition
and the high estimated costs of conducting biometric voter
registration.
26. Similarly, at the ministerial meeting of the
ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council held in Abuja on 15 July, most
members of the Council objected to the introduction of biometric
voter registration for the upcoming elections as proposed by the
Transitional Government, arguing that it would negatively affect the
electoral timeline, and would require substantial funds that are not
available.
27. Since the signatories of the Transitional Pact
and Political Agreement had consensually expressed preference for biometric
voter registration, the Transitional President met with political
parties and civil society organizations on 22 July to discuss the
voter registration methodology in an effort to ensure consensus on a
realistic approach. He tasked the Parliamentary Commission, which was
established to review the transitional instruments of May 2012, to
advise whether manual or biometric voter registration would be
suitable for the country. He also requested the Commission to review
the electoral legislation and propose necessary amendments.
The Commission submitted its report to the
Transitional President on 1 August. He announced on 2 August that
“improved” manual voter registration would be used for the
general elections of 24 November, and that an amendment to the
electoral law would be submitted to Parliament.
B. Security situation
28. During the reporting period, the security
situation remained calm. Following a meeting of the Transitional
President and a delegation of the Nigerian armed forces, the
Guinea-Bissau Chief of General Staff announced, on 6 May, that the
Transitional Government had requested ECOWAS, and particularly
Nigeria, to support Guinea-Bissau in jointly patrolling its
territorial waters to help fight illicit drug, arms and human
trafficking. On 17 May, national media carried a report by a
representative of the ocean initiative of National Geographic, which
highlighted extensive illegal fishing in Guinea-Bissau’s waters.
29. A delegation from ECOWAS consisting of the
Chiefs of Defence Staff of
Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria and Togo,
and a representative of the Chief of Defence Staff of Senegal,
arrived in Bissau on 27 May. Addressing the handover and contingent
rotation and command ceremony of ECOMIB on the same day, the Chief of
Defence Staff of Côte d’Ivoire highlighted the challenges
confronting the mission. He underlined the importance of and the need
to speed up the security sector reform process, and to ensure the
efficient handling of the welfare of veterans of the liberation war.
He also mentioned the future role of the ECOMIB police units in
support of efforts to ensure security during the upcoming elections.
The ECOWAS military chiefs met with the Transitional President and
the Transitional Prime Minister on 27 May and participated in a
meeting with the Guinea-Bissau Chief of General Staff on 28 May to
discuss regional defence and security issues.
They also focused on the status of implementation
of the memorandum of understanding concerning the road map for the
defence and security sector reform programme signed by ECOWAS and
Guinea-Bissau in November 2012, particularly the rehabilitation of
military installations and implementation of the pension fund
programme for members of the defence and security institutions. The
Chief of Defence Staff of Côte d’Ivoire also highlighted the need
to improve the living conditions of ECOMIB personnel.
30. On 31 May, the commanding officer of ECOMIB
confirmed to UNIOGBIS that ECOMIB was conducting patrols in all
regions of the country, with the exception of the Bijagos islands. He
also stated that ECOMIB had commenced the coordination of future
activities related to military and police training with the Ministry
of Defence, as part of the security sector reform process. He
affirmed that ECOWAS was planning for the reinforcement of ECOMIB
with an extra police company to better support the electoral process.
- Socioeconomic and humanitarian situation
31. The overall economic and social situation in
the country remained difficult during the reporting period and the
State continued to face challenges in meeting its financial
commitments. The situation was compounded by an uncertain cashew
export season that could further jeopardize economic growth
prospects, weaken the State financially and worsen the already
deteriorating food security situation in the country. The State
budget for 2013, which was approved on 15 July, will require
budgetary support of CFAF 12 billion (US$ 24 million), of which only
about 25 per cent has been secured.
32. The current cashew export season was
negatively affected by lack of coordination among different operators
and government institutions on setting key parameters, such as the
indicative price and the export surcharge. It also suffered from
controversies and delays in operationalizing a new agency to promote
the cashew sector and liquidity shortages in local commercial banks.
On 13 June, the National Assembly urged the Transitional Government
to immediately reset the export tax at CFAF 50 per kg of cashew nuts
and to urgently adopt mechanisms for monitoring and implementing a
minimum reference price of CFAF 210 per kg.
33. The international price for cashew remained
relatively low compared to previous years, which had a direct impact on food
security since the cost of rice, the country’s staple food, had
remained relatively high in local markets. About 80 per cent of
households depend on income from the production of cashew nuts for
their livelihoods. As a result, many households resorted to various
negative coping strategies, such as reducing the quantity and quality
of meals, destocking livestock, as well as seasonal migration. In the
most severely affected regions (Quinara, Oio, Biombo and Bijagos),
food insecurity affected 40 per cent of the population. In addition
according to a rapid food security assessment conducted jointly by
the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the
World Food Programme with relevant government bodies in June 2013, an
estimated 48 per cent of households had stocks of cereals that would
last for only one month.
34. From 28 April to 10 May, the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) fielded a consultative mission to Guinea-Bissau. The mission
confirmed a growth rate of minus 1.5 per cent in 2012, but indicated
that the economy could rebound to a 3.5 per cent growth in 2013,
subject to certain conditions, including a positive cashew export
season. The mission’s report stressed that recurrent internal
conflicts had negatively affected Guinea-Bissau’s economic growth,
as well as efforts to reduce poverty, thus affecting social
advancement in the country. It also highlighted the fact that the
country’s economic performance would be contingent on an inclusive
political process and progress in security sector reform efforts.
35. From 16 to 18 June, the World Bank fielded a
mission to Guinea-Bissau to discuss economic development priorities with the
Transitional Government and development partners, and the support
already being provided in the context of a decision by its Board on a
possible re-engagement of the World Bank in the last quarter of the
year.
36. In close collaboration with IMF and the World
Bank, UNDP continued to closely monitor the economic and financial
situation in the country, to analyse information on both the cashew
season and the implementation of the budget, and to provide technical
advice to the Transitional Government on planning, public finance
management and coordination.
37. Since May, an increasing number of cholera
cases have been reported in the Tombali region. As at 7 August, 260
cholera cases and 22 fatalities had been reported.
The Ministry of Health had activated the Epidemic
Management Committee to coordinate actions aimed at containing the
outbreak in Tombali and promoting preventive actions countrywide. The
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has been supporting
preparedness and response activities, including advocacy for the
declaration of an epidemic by the Transitional Government. A
fundraising strategy was being developed by the United Nations
country team for a multisectoral response in the whole country,
including prevention and case management.
38. The period under review was marked by strikes
by civil servants demanding the payment of unpaid salary arrears and
subsidies, as well as improved working conditions. On 7 May, public
school teachers went on strike for the third time in the 2012/13
school year. As the Transitional Government and the two teachers’
unions failed to reach an agreement, the two unions extended the
strike for over two weeks, jeopardizing completion of the school
year, in which children had already lost over a third of classes. My
Special Representative and UNICEF undertook mediation efforts between
the teachers’ unions and the Transitional Government, which
resulted in the ending of the strike on 23 May. Indications were that
the strike had not affected all regions in the country. UNICEF
supported the Ministry of Education in identifying the essential
curriculum to be covered so that the most affected regions could take
compensatory measures, such as extending the school year by one to
two weeks. Workers of the health sector launched a seven-day strike
on 4 June, endangering the health and lives of patients who were sent
home from hospitals for lack of personnel. 39. Meanwhile, the press
focused on increased illicit exploitation of natural resources during
the reporting period, especially illegal logging. The rate of
depletion of the few remaining forests in the country and related
ecosystems had continued unabated. During an extraordinary session of
the National Assembly on 13 June, parliamentarians approved a
resolution on illegal logging, requesting the Government to urgently
address the situation.
- Observations
40. The Transitional Government and political
actors have made important progress by approving the consensual
Transitional Pact and Political Agreement, setting up a broad-based
inclusive Transitional Government, appointing the President and
members of the National Electoral Commission and setting the date of
24 November 2013 for the elections. I am encouraged that stakeholders
in Guinea-Bissau were able to accommodate their diverse perspectives
and reach consensus on these crucial steps towards the restoration of
constitutional order.
41. I urge national stakeholders to make every
effort to hold the legislative and presidential elections within the
agreed time schedule. It is critical to ensure a credible,
transparent, inclusive and democratic electoral process at all
stages. I welcome the announcement by the Transitional President that
improved manual voter registration will be used for the general
elections of 24 November. I urge all stakeholders to uphold the
principle of consensus going forward, and to agree on an electoral
code of conduct aimed at creating a peaceful electoral environment. I
call on Guinea-Bissau’s international partners to contribute to
this vital electoral process. The United Nations will continue to
provide assistance in line with the recommendations of the recent
needs assessment mission and to support the mobilization of necessary
resources.
42. While presidential and legislative elections
are a prerequisite to the restoration of constitutional order in
Guinea-Bissau, the country needs to depart from decades of political
and military instability and a “winner takes all” approach to
politics.
Elections should be followed by longer-term
concerted efforts aimed at addressing the structural root causes of
political instability and discontent. In the interim, there needs to
be a new culture of politics which favours consensus and inclusion,
so that the State can be rebuilt and serve the interests of all
citizens rather than those of a few. I therefore urge national
stakeholders, in particular political actors, to pursue the route of
constructive and inclusive dialogue aimed at building consensus on
the key reforms that must be undertaken in the coming years.
43. In this regard, I welcome the creation of the
National Commission for Planning and Strategic Coordination. The
expansion of the United Nations presence from two to four regional
offices will strengthen the capacity of the United Nations to support
national actors in extending the consultations beyond Bissau, thus
ensuring meaningful nationwide participation in efforts towards the
restoration of constitutional order and the promotion of good
governance and socioeconomic development.
44. The progress made in recent months in the
political process is also due to the engagement of international
partners. I call on the international partners of Guinea-Bissau to
remain engaged so as to promote further progress. I also welcome the
initiative of the African Union to lead the second joint assessment
mission to Guinea-Bissau, involving ECOWAS, CPLP, the European Union,
the International Organization of la Francophonie and the United
Nations, from 8 to 10 July. The mission helped the participating
entities to forge a common understanding of the evolving situation in
the country. It also served to reassure the citizens of Guinea-Bissau
of the international community’s will to continue to assist them in
the search for sustainable solutions to the political crisis.
45. I commend the leadership and efforts of Maria
Luiza Ribeiro Viotti in her
capacity as Chair of the Guinea-Bissau
configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission from December 2007 to
May 2013, which contributed to the advancement of the country’s
peacebuilding process. The configuration should continue to play a
critical role in support of national efforts towards the restoration
of constitutional order and the consolidation of peace, stability and
economic development.
46. I remain concerned about the persisting
culture of impunity and lack of
accountability in Guinea-Bissau. I welcome the
holding of the National Conference on Impunity, Justice and Human
Rights in Bissau in July 2013, and I urge once again the transitional
authorities to take swift action to fight impunity and promote
justice. I call on national stakeholders to implement the
recommendations of the Conference, as a matter of urgency.
47. Guinea-Bissau faces a difficult socioeconomic
situation caused by multiple factors, including a negative cashew
export season that has a direct impact on the livelihoods of rural
communities and increases food insecurity and malnutrition.
I therefore urge the international community and
other partners to seek ways to fund assistance programmes for those
affected communities.
48. In conclusion, I wish to express my
appreciation to the staff of UNIOGBIS and the United Nations country
team, under the leadership of my Special Representative, José
Ramos-Horta, as well as to Guinea-Bissau’s regional and
international partners for their contributions to the efforts to
restore constitutional order and promote peacebuilding in the
country.
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