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The political situation in Guinea-Bissau "has remained difficult and volatile" over the past three months, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said in his latest report on the West African nation, whose government said it foiled a coup on 3 December.
Annan appealed to local political actors "to continue to resolve their differences through dialogue and within the framework of the constitution". He called on the international community to "remain engaged with and supportive of Guinea-Bissau" and to contribute generously to a roundtable conference to be held in early 2002 to help raise resources for the country.
The political process continues to be marked by multiple crises among various institutions, according to the report, which covers late September to early December. The opposition has been calling repeatedly for President Kumba Yala's resignation. Yala dismissed the foreign minister and prime minister on 21 November and 3 December respectively. The opposition has also called for the arrest and detention of the president of the Supreme Court on corruption allegations to be rescinded, describing them as politically motivated.
On the security front, the situation along the border with Guinea-Bissau's northern neighbour, Senegal, has improved, although armed Senegalese rebels have made occasional forays into the country, occasionally attacking civilian vehicles, according to the report, dated 14 December.
Yala came to power in early 2000 after winning elections that ended a brief period of military-civilian rule following the ouster in mid-1999 of then President Nino Vieira by a self-styled Military Junta. Tension between the military and Yala's government came to a head in November 2000, when former Junta leader General Ansumane Mane staged an aborted attempt to regain control over the armed forces. Mane was killed on 30 November 2000 by loyalist forces.
According to the Secretary-General's report, "the military authorities have continued to pledge loyalty to the constitutional order, although there are growing indications of concern about the apparent inability of the government to move the democratic process forward".
The full report can be viewed at
http://www.un.org/Docs/sc/reports/2001/1211e.pdf
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
