(Bissau, 15th August 2016): the President of the ECOWAS Commission, His Excellency, Marcel de Souza has paid a two day visit to Guinea Bissau from 14^th to 15^th August 2016. During the visit President de Souza met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Soares Sambú,   and paid courtesy calls on the Prime Minister Baciro Dja, the Speaker of the Parliament, Cipriano Cassamá  and the President of the Republic, José Mário Vaz.

President de Souza’s visit  to Guinea-Bissau came at a moment that the country is stalled in institutional crisis among the Republic’s main institutions which has led to lack of dialogue among the main political  stakeholders, with deep impact on the people’s daily life. The Program of the Government and the State Budget bill are yet to be approved by the National Parliament which is completely divided.

The President of the Commission urged the authorities in Guinea-Bissau to do their best to ratify the ECOWAS protocols, especially the  Protocol on Free Movement of People and Goods. President de Souza added that the foundation of the Community is  linkedto the ideal  of the free movement of citizens within the Region. President de Souza also discussed with the  Country’s leadership  on a number of other issues, among which is the Community Levy arrears . He urged the financial authorities to address the issue and to honor the country’s commitment by approaching the Commission and reschedule the  payment plan.

The President of the Commission was deeply briefed on the ECOWAS Mission in Guinea-Bissau (ECOMIB) and was pleased to see the contribution  of ECOMIB in the stabilization of the country. However, Mr. de Souza informed the national authorities on the decision of the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government during the last Summit in Dakar on the 4^th of June, 2016 to end the Mission within a year, hence the need to immediately train the Country’s defense and Security forces within six months to adequately equip them to maintain stability and ensure the security of lives and property  in Guinea-Bissau.

The President of the Commission took advantage of the visit to  introduce the new Permanent Representative of the President of the ECOWAS Commission to Guinea-BissauMr. Blaise Diplo to the Authorities.