Tension in the military reported

There has been rising tension within Guinea-Bissau’s army, the Senegalese news agency, APS, and other sources reported.

The tension appears to centre on the future of Armed Forces Chief of Staff Verissimo Correia Seabra. On Wednesday, APS reported officers close to President Kumba Yala as saying that Seabra “is facing more and more contestation within the Bissau-Guinean army”.

The Panafrican News Agency (PANA) reported that one of the main persons touted to replace Seabra was Umberto Gomis, who had been chief of staff under ex-president Nino Vieira.

Humanitarian sources in Bissau told IRIN that reports that Yala wanted to replace Seabra had been circulating for weeks but that there was no official confirmation and no-one seemed to know the reason. The source said some officers were opposed to Gomis’ appointment and had threatened war if Yala insisted on it. PANA said the fact that he served under Vieira was one of the reasons given for their opposition.

Vieira was overthrown in May 1999 following an 11-month war between his supporters, backed by Senegalese and Guinean troops, and a self-styled Junta Militar (Military Junta), led by Brig-Gen Ansumane Mane and supported by the bulk of the military.

The junta co-governed Guinea-Bissau with civilians until elections in late 1999 and early 2000 that brought Yala to power. Relations between the civilian government and the junta deteriorated during the course of last year and, in November, Mane declared that Seabra was no longer chief of staff, revoked military promotions made by Yala, and took over the military.

However, loyalist forces regained the upper hand within days, with Mane losing his life in the process.