World
West Africa urges dialogue in Guinea Bissau over stalled vote
ECOWAS called on the authorities in Guinea Bissau "to undertake wide consultations with national stakeholders on the electoral calendar, in a transparent and inclusive manner, in order to preserve the necessary conditions for a peaceful, inclusive and transparent return to constitutional order".
The junta in Guinea established under General Horta N'Tam had set December 6 as the date for presidential and legislative elections meant to restore civilian rule. (AFP)
By: AFP ., Journalist @New Vision
ABUJA - West African regional bloc ECOWAS on Friday urged Guinea-Bissau's junta to hold wide consultations after the poll body said conditions were not conducive to hold a vote to restore civilian rule.
The December 6 presidential and legislative vote were due after a November coup overthrew president Umaro Sissoco Embalo and suspended the electoral process days after voting.
Many observers suspected Embalo of orchestrating the putsch to halt an election process he appeared to be losing.
The perennially unstable west African nation has been gripped by significant political and security turmoil for several weeks, as the December deadline approaches.
The perennially unstable west African nation has been gripped by significant political and security turmoil for several weeks, as the December deadline approaches.
On Wednesday, the electoral commission announced that "conditions necessary to organise elections by December 6 will not be met".
ECOWAS called on the authorities in Guinea Bissau "to undertake wide consultations with national stakeholders on the electoral calendar, in a transparent and inclusive manner, in order to preserve the necessary conditions for a peaceful, inclusive and transparent return to constitutional order".
Guinea-Bissau, wedged between Senegal and Guinea, has experienced five coups and numerous attempted putsches since independence from Portugal in 1974.
The nation's crippling poverty and political chaos have also made it a fertile ground for corruption and drug smuggling.
ECOWAS called on the authorities in Guinea Bissau "to undertake wide consultations with national stakeholders on the electoral calendar, in a transparent and inclusive manner, in order to preserve the necessary conditions for a peaceful, inclusive and transparent return to constitutional order".
Guinea-Bissau, wedged between Senegal and Guinea, has experienced five coups and numerous attempted putsches since independence from Portugal in 1974.
The nation's crippling poverty and political chaos have also made it a fertile ground for corruption and drug smuggling.