Guinea-Bissau: ECOWAS visit April 10-11

Event

A high-level mission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will be visiting Bissau on April 10-11 to review the implementation of the Conakry Agreement. The agreement, which is sponsored by ECOWAS, provides for the formation of a consensual government composed of all parties represented in parliament and the appointment of a consensus prime minister and other posts. Demonstrations or protests denouncing ECOWAS may occur in the capital during the visit; in February thousands of government supporters protested ECOWAS after it imposed sanctions against 19 Guinean individuals, including several members of the political and judicial sector. Increased security measures are to be anticipated in the city during the visit. 

Context

Guinea-Bissau has experienced a period of political uncertainty since August 2015, when President José Mário Vaz dismissed Prime Minister Domingos Simões Pereira, leader of the president's own African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC). Vaz and his government have suffered increasing unpopularity over the past three years and have failed to open significant dialogue with opposition actors, a concern given the country's history of frequent coup d'états. Various protests have been held in recent months in the capital.

Advice

Individuals are advised to monitor the situation and avoid all potential protests due to the possibility of violence.