The
President of the ECOWAS Commission, His Excellency Marcel de Souza paid a
two-day visit to Guinea Bissau from 14th to 15th August 2016. During the visit,
President de Souza met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Soares Sambú, and paid courtesy calls on the Prime
Minister Baciro Dja, the Speaker of the Parliament, Cipriano Cassamá and the President of the Republic, José Mário
Vaz.
President
de Souza’s visit to Guinea-Bissau came
at a moment that the country is stalled in institutional crisis among the
Republic’s main institutions which has led to lack of dialogue among the main
political stakeholders, with deep impact
on the people’s daily life. The Program of the Government and the State Budget
bill are yet to be approved by the National Parliament which is completely
divided.
The
President of the Commission urged the authorities in Guinea-Bissau to do their
best to ratify the ECOWAS protocols, especially the Protocol on Free Movement
of People and Goods. President de Souza added that the foundation of the
Community is linked to the ideal of the free movement of citizens within the
Region. President de Souza also discussed with the Country’s leadership on a
number of other issues, among which is the Community Levy arrears. He urged the
financial authorities to address the issue and to honor the country’s
commitment by approaching the Commission and reschedule the payment plan.
The
President of the Commission was deeply briefed on the ECOWAS Mission in
Guinea-Bissau (ECOMIB) and was pleased to see the contribution of ECOMIB in the
stabilization of the country. However, Mr. de Souza informed the national
authorities on the decision of the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government during
the last Summit in Dakar on the 4th of June, 2016 to end the Mission within a
year, hence the need to immediately train the Country’s defense and Security
forces within six months to adequately equip them to maintain stability and
ensure the security of lives and property in Guinea-Bissau.
The
President of the Commission took advantage of the visit to introduce the new
Permanent Representative of the President of the ECOWAS Commission to
Guinea-Bissau Mr Blaise Diplo to the Authorities.
