Guinea-Bissau today represents an example of where the United Nations can contribute meaningfully to a nation’s efforts “to move from a state of war to one of peace and gradual return to constitutional order,” Secretary-General Kofi Annan said in a report released on Monday.
Writing on the latest developments in the war-scared country, he said President Kumba Yala had set about establishing post-electoral priorities. These include the consolidation of democracy depoliticisation of the army, the reintegration of military staff and the relaunch of the economy. Health, education, agriculture and “good governance” have also been identified as requiring urgent attention, he said.
Supporting these efforts, the UN Peace Building Support Office in Guinea-Bissau, UNOGBIS, has helped the Supreme Court train 37 new judges. UNOGBIS is also monitoring the trials of people detained over the past year to ensure their human rights are upheld.
The present mandate of UNOGBIS is due to expire on 31 March but has been extended by the Security Council to end on 31 March 2001.
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