Visit of the chairperson of the Authority of the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government to Guinea bissau

FINAL COMMUNIQUE

In furtherance to the briefing of the Authority of the ECOWAS Heads of States and Government by H.E. Professor Alpha CONDE, President of the Republic of Guinea on the recent Agreement, signed by all stakeholders of Guinea Bissau on October 14, 2016 in Conakry, Guinea, on the margins of the Maritime Security Summit held in Lome, Togo, on October 15, 2016, the Authority of the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government tasked Her Excellency Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of the Republic of Liberia and Chairperson of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, to, as matter of urgency, follow up with the Bissau-Guinean stakeholders on the implementation of the signed Agreement.

Pursuant to this decision, the Chairperson went to Guinea Bissau on November 5, 2016 for further consultations with major stakeholders on the implementation of the 10-point Agreement signed in Conakry, Guinea. Her Excellency Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was accompanied by Foreign Minister of Liberia, Madam Marjon V. Kamara, the Representative of the ECOWAS Mediator, Mr. Yousouf Kiridi Bangoura, Minister of State and Secretary General of the Presidency of Guinea, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Marcel A. de SOUZA, the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Mrs. Halima Ahmed, and supported by the Representatives of the ECOWAS, African Union, United Nations and European Union (P5). The mission had consultations with stakeholders.

The objectives of the mission included:

1. The appointment of a consensual Prime Minister, within the shortest possible time, with the mandate to form an all-inclusive government of national unity;
2. The resumption of normal parliamentary activities in the shortest possible time to consider and approve the government program to be proposed by the newly-installed government; and
3. The organization of a national dialogue roundtable to discuss the ‘Stability Pact’ meant to articulate key constitutional and institutional reforms before 2018 legislative election.

After consultations with the President of the Republic of Guinea Bissau, H.E. Jose Mario Vaz and the representatives of major key stakeholders, namely, the PAIGC and the 15 “Dissident” MPs, the PRS, the President of the National Popular Assembly, and the Prime Minister, the mission took note of the following, as means to unlock the current gridlock to further pave the way for the swift implementation of the 10-point Conakry Agreement which will lead to the alleviation of the suffering of the people of Guinea Bissau:

1. That the stakeholders reaffirmed their commitments to the Conakry Agreement;
2. Encourage the stakeholders to accelarate the reintegration of the 15 “dissident’ MPs into the PAIGC, in complaince with the Conakry Agreement;
3. The appointment by the President of the Republic of a consensual Prime Minister without further delay, who has the confidence of the President of the Republic;
4. The formation of an all-inclusive government, taking into account the parliamentary representations of the political parties;
5. The convening of parliamentary sessions in the shortest possible time;
6. The organization of a national dialogue roundtable to discuss the ‘Stability Pact’ meant to articulate key constitutional and institutional reforms before 2018 legislative (as stated in the Conakry Agreement).

The High-Level ECOWAS Mission appeals to all stakeholders of Guinea Bissau to respect the Conakry Agreement. Finally, the Chairperson of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government wishes to thank the government and people of Guinea Bissau for the warm welcome and courtesies accorded her and the mission.

Done at Bissau, this day of 5th November 2016

Signed By:

Her Excellency Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

President of the Republic of Liberia

and Chairperson of the Authority of ECOWAS

Heads of State and Government

H.E. Jose Mario Vaz

President of the Republic of Guinea Bissau

H.E. Marcel A. de SOUZA

President of the ECOWAS Commission