UNOGBIS mandate extended

The United Nations Security Council has extended the mandate of the UN Peace-building Support Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNOGBIS) for one year, a statement from the UN said. The mandate was extended on the recommendation of the UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, to give the transitional government time to strengthen democratic institutions. In a letter this week to the Council’s President for November, Ambassador Ismael Abraao Gaspar Martins of Angola, Annan proposed that UNOGBIS' mandate be extended to December 2004. Annan said that the UN’s role in Guinea-Bissau should include promoting political dialogue, national reconciliation, the rule of law, respect for human rights, constitutional normality and peace with the country's neighbours. Annan further said that UNOGBIS should help with upcoming "free and transparent" elections and with the peaceful management of differences, while also trying to "encourage the government to enact the programme of small arms collection and destruction". Guinea-Bissau, a former Portuguese colony that became independent in 1975, has seen turbulent times in the 90s. The small West African country with a population of 1.3 million, experienced a civil war in 1998-1999 and since then it has recorded a growing deficit in terms of democracy and good governance. Under former president Kumba Yala who was desposed by the army in a bloodless coup on September 14 after delaying parliamentary elections for nearly a year and leaving civil servants and soldiers unpaid for several months, the country sunk to very deep poverty levels and found itself in a socio-economic crisis. It was with an eye to the country's troubled recent history, instability and uncertain future that UNOGBIS was established in 1999 under UN Resolution 1233. UNOGBIS was initially headed by Samuel Nana-Simkam of Cameroon, who was replaced by British national David Stephen in 2002. The office has worked closely with the government to help it remedy some of the country's socio-economic problems. It has provided training to the local judiciary and has operated a Human Rights Unit (HRU). Kumba Yala, 49, was desposed in a pre-dawn military, organised by the army chief of staff, General Verissimo Correia Seabra, who subsequently set up a National Transitional Council, bringing together senior figures in the military, politicians and members of civil society. In early October, businessman Henrique Rosa was sworn in as President, agreeing to lead an interim civilian administration until fresh presidential elections can be held within one year. On Wednesday, Rosa called on the Security Council to help meet a growing wage bill in his country and to back his transitional government as it prepares for parliamentary elections.