S/PV.7714 Security Council

In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representatives of Guinea-Bissau and Timor-Leste to participate in this meeting. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the following briefers to participate in this meeting: Mr. Modibo Touré, Special Representative of the Secretary- General and Head of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau; and Mr. Ovídio Manuel Barbosa Pequeno, Special Representative and Head of the African Union Liaison Office in Guinea- Bissau. On behalf of the Council, I welcome Mr. Touré and Mr. Pequeno, who are joining today’s meeting via video-teleconference from Bissau. The Security Council will now begin its consideration the item on its agenda. I give the floor to Mr. Touré.

It is my honour to brief the Security Council for the first time since my appointment on recent developments in Guinea-Bissau. As Council members are aware, on 26 May, the President of the Republic, His Excellency Mr. José Mário Vaz, appointed Mr. Baciro Djá as Prime Minister by presidential decree. Mr. Djá’s Cabinet was sworn in on 2 June. The new Cabinet consists of 19 Ministers and 12 Secretaries of State. However, two critical ministerial positions — Interior and Foreign Affairs — remain vacant. The appointment of the new Prime Minister triggered a political stand-off, whereby members of the dismissed Cabinet led by Mr. Carlos Correia refused to leave their offices, claiming that the recent presidential decree on the appointmentwas not in line with the Constitution and the Supreme Court’s decision of 8 September 2015. Mr. Correia insisted that he and his Ministers would hand over their responsibilities only to a Government nominated by the Parti africain pour l’indépendance de la Guinée et de Cabo Verde (PAIGC), as the party that holds the absolute majority in the Parliament. (spoke in English) The prolonged impasse over the new Cabinet, the fourth since the legislative elections of May 2014, came close to a confrontation as security forces strengthened their presence at the Government palace, following a 48-hour ultimatum issued by the Prosecutor General on 3 June. Further events — notably the death on 4 June of Ms. Carmen Pereira, a historical figure of the country’s liberation struggle who was also a veteran of the PAIGC and a staunch supporter of the dismissed Government — compounded the already tense situation and raised additional tensions between the sworn-in Government and the PAIGC over the organization of her funeral. In an attempt to defuse tensions, I met with President Vaz, the dismissed Prime Minister Carlos Correia, the President of the opposition Parti du renouveau social, Mr. Alberto Nambeia, and the President of the PAIGC, Domingos Simões Pereira, appealing for restraint, political dialogue and respect for the rule of law. I also mobilized the international community in Bissau to explore options for a peaceful solution to the stand-off at the Government palace and the handling of Ms. Pereira’s funeral. On 8 June, the day of Ms. Pereira’s funeral ceremony, I issued a condolence note that was broadcast on the radio, calling on all stakeholders to remain calm in this moment of national mourning. In the end, the funeral was held peacefully. Following intense overnight negotiations involving representatives of civil society, religious leaders, the Economic Community of West African States Mission in Guinea-Bissau (ECOMIB) and the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau, on 9 June the remaining members of the dismissed Cabinet and their supporters peacefully vacated the Government Palace, ending a 14-day stalemate. Earlier on the same day, following consultations among international partners, the representatives of the African Union, the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries (CPLP), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the European Union and my Office had issued a joint communiqué expressing our support for a peaceful solution to the impasse. The peaceful resolution of the stand-off may have helped avert a potentially serious crisis. However, further challenges loom ahead. The PAIGC has initiated legal proceedings challenging the President’s recent appointments. Furthermore, the status of the 15 Members of Parliament expelled by the PAIGC in January, as well as the ongoing impasse at the National Assembly, add to the legal confusion and institutional uncertainty facing the country. Following a decision of the new Cabinet on 3 June to dismiss the director of the national radio, the latter has filed a case with the Supreme Court, challenging the constitutionality of the presidential decree of 26 May, appointing Mr. Djá as Prime Minister. As Council members may recall, it was the same action by this appellant, after having been dismissed from the same post, that triggered the Supreme Court’s proceedings that voided the appointment of Mr. Djá in September 2015. Regardless of the judicial outcomes, a sustainable solution to the ongoing political crisis can only be found through genuine political dialogue. Yet, one of the primary forums for such dialogue — the National Assembly — suspended its current session on 18 May as a result of disputes over the agenda and the status of the 15 Members of Parliament. Earlier today, that parliamentary session was closed; the next one is expected to open later this month. Against this backdrop, and since my arrival in Bissau, I have engaged in an intensive round of consultations with national and regional leaders, as well as international partners. I have specifically sought to shore up the commitment of ECOWAS to the presence of ECOMIB. In the lead-up to, as well as on the margins of the forty-ninth ordinary session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS, I met with President Olusegun Obasanjo, Special Envoy of the Nigerian President, in his capacity as Chairman of the Regional Contact Group on Guinea-Bissau; Mr. Marcel de Souza, Chairperson of the ECOWAS Commission; President Alpha Condé of Guinea, in his capacity as the ECOWAS Mediator for Guinea-Bissau; and President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita of Mali to enlist their support in favour of an extension of ECOMIB and to help mediate a sustainable solution to the situation in Guinea-Bissau. In this regard, we welcome the decision of the ECOWAS Heads of State of 4 June to extend the mandate of ECOMIB for another year, on the understanding that the international community would provide funding, as appropriate. As Council members are aware, the Heads of State also entrusted a high-level delegation, comprising the Presidents of Guinea, Senegal, and Sierra Leone, to engage with political stakeholders in Guinea-Bissau and better assess the situation in the country. In addition, they directed the ECOWAS Commission to consult with the CPLP with a view to convening a meeting of the International Contact Group on Guinea-Bissau. My Office stands ready to provide any assistance required to ensure the implementation of these key decisions. Soon after the ECOWAS Summit, in an effort to maintain the Dakar momentum, I travelled to Abidjan to meet with President Alassane Ouattara and had follow-up conversations with his peers, the Presidents of Senegal and Guinea. In the days ahead, I shall also engage with the new Chair of ECOWAS, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and with President Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone. While we focus our energies on finding a political and sustainable solution, it is also important that we continue to provide the required support to the people of Guinea-Bissau, whose lives and livelihoods have been adversely impacted by the country’s recurrent instability. We have seen in March and April how strikes in the health and education sectors seriously affected the school year and deprived citizens of key preventative and medical services, including maternal and child health. The longer the crisis continues, the more likely it is that we will see a setback to the gains of the post- electoral period, including positive economic growth, increase in revenues and commitment to key reforms in defence and security, justice and public services. In a country where the official development assistance amounts to about 15 per cent of gross domestic product and almost 80 per cent of the budget, the current suspension of disbursements and direct budget support from the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the European Union and the African Development Bank creates financial pressure that could negatively affect the running of the State, including the payment of salaries. The current situation calls for innovative strategies to deliver services and support the resilient population of Guinea-Bissau. With the United Nations country team, I shall continue to engage with partners to support the population, especially those most vulnerable. That would contribute to greater stability, while fostering dialogue with authorities on development and reform priorities as leverage for peace and development. The attention given by the Security Council to the situation in Guinea-Bissau and its support to the search for a sustainable solution to the political and institutional challenges in the country are of the utmost importance.

I thank Mr. Touré for his briefing. I now give the floor to Mr. Pequeno.

I thank you, Sir, for this opportunity to brief the Council on the political and security situation in Guinea-Bissau. (spoke in English) I fully concur with the statement made by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Modibo Touré. Allow me to add some points. The security situation in Guinea-Bissau remains calm and the military has so far kept out of politics. It is, however, questionable how long it can remain politically neutral, considering the fragile political situation. On top of that, the security sector reform process has stalled due to a lack of funding, as has the justice and public adminstration reform. We should recognize the critical importance of the role played by the Economic Community of West African States Mission in Guinea- Bissau (ECOMIB), and welcome the decision taken by the Heads of State of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), who recently held a Summit in Dakar on 4 June to extend the mandate of ECOMIB for another year, which we believe will further stabilize the country. In that regard, we urge the defence and security forces of Guinea-Bissau to better collaborate and coordinate with ECOMIB. In addition, we stress the importance of the ECOWAS high-level mission made up of three heads of State, which will go to Guinea-Bissau to engage in a dialogue with national political stakeholders with a view to encourage dialogue and find a lasting political solution to the continuing political crisis. The African Union stands ready to provide any assistance, in coordination with other partners, to ensure the success of the visit. The crisis in Guinea-Bissau has long undermined peace and stability. The general tensions in the ruling party — the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cabo Verde — and the divisions among political actors are the causes for the political and institutional crisis, which needs to be addressed with a compressive approach. It is our conviction that only a genuine and inclusive dialogue, based on respect for the country’s Constitution and its laws, will lead to a resolution of the crisis. We therefore encourage all national political actors to exercise restraint, uphold the rule of law and engage in a constructive dialogue to resolve their differences, safeguard peace and stability and foster socioeconomic development, with a view to alleviating the suffering of the people of Guinea-Bissau. Lastly, I would like to highlight the excellent level of coordination and collaboration among ECOWAS, the CPLP, the European Union, the United Nations and the African Union, as well as the role they have been playing to address the crisis in Guinea-Bissau. I look forward to working in the same spirit. Similarly, I would like to urge the CPLP and ECOWAS to convene an International Contact Group meeting on Guinea- Bissau to contribute to a resolution of the crisis. We still have a long way to go. Two important portfolios in the new Government, as Mr. Touré mentioned, namely, the Minister for the Interior and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, are yet to be filled. Furthermore, the programme and budget of the Government need to sail through the National Assembly in due time. I thank the Council for this opportunity and for its continued attention to the people of Guinea-Bissau.

I thank Mr. Barbosa Pequeno for his briefing.

(spoke in French): Before I go into my statement, I would like to thank the French presidency for quickly acceding, with the Security Council having such a busy programme, to the request by the delegation of Senegal to hold this briefing on the situation in Guinea-Bissau. On behalf of the members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), I would like to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Guinea-Bissau for his detailed briefing. I also thank the representatives of the African Union and of the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries (CPLP) for their commitment to Guinea-Bissau. As has been clearly pointed out, there have been many developments in the political situation in Guinea- Bissau since the dissolution by President José Mário Vaz of the Government led by Prime Minister Carlos Correia, on 12 May, and the subsequent appointment Mr. Baciro Djá to succeed him, on 26 May. The African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cabo Verde (PAIGC) rejected that decision, which it called illegal, and stated that, according to the Constitution, the Prime Minister was to be chosen by the majority party. In spite of the consultations held and the alternative proposals submitted by the PAIGC, President Vaz chose the option put forward by the Party for Social Renewal, naming Mr. Djá as Prime Minister. Given the tensions in the political class and the risk of an escalation, formal consultations were held at various levels to encourage dialogue among the stakeholders in order to find a solution acceptable to all. I would like to welcome the active preventive efforts, made in particular by the Security Council, on this matter. There were many statements by the Council President to the press to express the Council’s great concern at the impasse in the country for many months, as well as to call on political leaders to overcome that impasse and return to dialogue. The Council also adopted resolution 2267 (2016), on 26 February, which extended the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS) until 28 February 2017. The resolution also calls upon Guinea-Bissau’s President, Prime Minister, Speaker of Parliament and leaders of political parties to abide by their commitment to restore political stability in the country, in the interests of the people of Guinea-Bissau. The Council also visited Bissau on 7 March to repeat the same message and to undertake an exchange with the various stakeholders in the country’s crisis. Lastly, discussions were recently held, on 12 May, on various issues, including as well the Council’s consultations on 26 May, both of which were followed by a statement to the press by the President of the Council, expressing the great concern of the members in the face of the latest developments that had exacerbated tension among the political class and that risked undermining the country’s security and stability, especially in the then run-up the end of the mandate of the ECOWAS Mission in Guinea- Bissau (ECOMIB). Against that backdrop, at this stage I am pleased to refer to the conclusions of the forty-ninth Ordinary Summit of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, held in Dakar on 4 June. The main elements included the extension of the ECOMIB mandate for an additional year; the deployment to Bissau of a presidential delegation, made up of President Macky Sall of Senegal, President Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone and President Alpha Condé of Guinea, to hold discussions with parties to the crisis in order to gain a better understanding of the current situation in the country; the adoption by the ECOWAS Commission of the necessary provisions to settle the arrears due to ECOMIB troop-and police-contributing countries; and the launch of consultations between the ECOWAS Commission and the CPLP with a view to the holding a meeting of the International Contact Group on Guinea- Bissau. It should be noted that the ECOWAS Summit expressed its deep concern at the ongoing crisis in Guinea-Bissau, which undermines the implementation of commitments undertaken by development partners in March 2015 to provide financial assistance to the country. ECOWAS also urged political actors to engage in dialogue to resolve the political and institutional crisis, while also welcoming the professionalism of the army, which had remained on the sidelines of political developments, and encouraging it to so continue. Those decisions by ECOWAS reflect the full engagement of the subregion for a peaceful and lasting resolution to the crisis in the country. Consultations are taking place to determine the date for the visit of the West African presidential delegation, which will be preceded by a mission made up by a delegation of Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Integration and/or Defence from the three countries I mentioned, accompanied by the Chair of the ECOWAS Commission, with the aim of identifying, along with the political actors in Guinea- Bissau, specific issues for the Heads of State to take up, including potential recommendations that could follow. On behalf of all ECOWAS member countries, the delegation of Senegal welcomes the tireless efforts of Guinea-Bissau’s partners, bilateral and multilateral alike, including the United Nations, the African Union, the European Union and the CPLP. We reiterate to them our gratitude for their very valuable support. ECOWAS also welcomes the outstanding work done by the Guinea-Bissau configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission and commends the latest press release, issued on 9 June. We are convinced that by working together and pooling all of our efforts, we will be able to contribute to restoring the cohesion and political stability so desired by the people of Guinea-Bissau, who deserve to enjoy the dividends of peace. To conclude, ECOWAS reiterates its support to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and encourages him to continue his good offices and mediation efforts.

I now give the floor to the representative of Guinea-Bissau.

I wish to thank you, Mr. President, for having invited my delegation to the Council table and for allowing me to take the floor. I also congratulate you on your assumption of the presidency of the Council for the month of June and to wish you successful deliberations. Allow me to recognize Mr. Modibo Touré, the new Special Representative of the Secretary-General, for his prompt engagement in the current issues facing my country upon his arrival and for all of the diligent efforts of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau in addressing the latest developments in Guinea-Bissau. The work of the Peacebuilding Commission configuration, through the personal engagement of Ambassador Antonio Patriota of Brazil, on peacebuilding in Guinea-Bissau is very important and deeply appreciated. I also would like to thank Ambassador Maria Pires, Permanent Representative of Timor-Leste and Chair of the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries (CPLP), for her statement. I wish also to thank the Ambassador of Senegal for his important statement on Guinea-Bissau. Guinea-Bissau is once again facing political and institutional crises, as we just heard from the briefing delivered by Mr. Modibo Touré, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, whom I wish to thank. I also request him, on behalf of the people of Guinea-Bissau, to remain closely engaged together with the States members of our subregion, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), especially our closest neighbours, Senegal and the Republic of Guinea, which have been working hard to help Guinea-Bissau find a solution leading to sustainable peace. Allow me to thank also Mr. Ovídio Pequeno, Head of the African Union Liaison Office in Guinea-Bissau, for his briefing and for the active role that he is playing in my country. The recent Summit of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS, held in Dakar, and the decision taken on the visit by the Presidents of the Republic of Guinea, Senegal and Sierra Leone to Bissau is very commendable. All of the people of Guinea-Bissau look forward to this mission, which will be crucial in showing the engagement of ECOWAS in the process of bringing peace, security and stability not only to Guinea-Bissau but to our subregion as a whole. Allow me also to commend Senegal, through its Permanent Representative, Ambassador Fodé Seck, for the engagement of President Macky Sall to Guinea-Bissau, especially during his chairmanship of ECOWAS. After the very comprehensive briefing on the current situation in Guinea-Bissau, all I have to add is that the country is practically paralysed, people are suffering, and everyone is apprehensively awaiting the Supreme Court ruling and the visit of the three Heads of State from the region. We are aware that the political and institutional crises that have isolated our country for the past year require political will on the part of the main actors in our country. However, the continued strong support of the international community as a whole, in a coordinated and single-minded manner, might help us to achieve a solid solution to the persistent impasse. Very well-coordinated diplomatic efforts, such as the meeting of the Guinea-Bissau International Contact Group, in which the entire international community and our partners can participate, would be a step towards joining other voices to that of the people of Guinea- Bissau at this moment. The financial support of the European Union, which allowed for the extension of the mandate of the ECOWAS Mission in Guinea-Bissau for one more year, is very much appreciated. As stated by the Heads of State of ECOWAS, the persistent crisis in Guinea-Bissau is undermining the implementation of the financial commitments made by our development partners in March 2015. For this we need coordinated support to bring stability to the country, which desperately needs to get back to normal functioning so that it can regain the trust of our partners and make the very encouraging results of the Brussels round-table conference on Guinea-Bissau a reality. The people cherish the hope that these steps will help the country to finally concentrate on development as well as to continue with the needed security-sector reform, which should include a dignified pension for retired armed forces professionals. As the Council is aware, so far the armed forces have stayed out of the present crisis, and we want them to continue with this republican position and non-interference in the political disputes of the country. Before concluding, I would like to thank all present for their support during these dark times and wish to appeal to them not to abandon Guinea-Bissau and to remain even more engaged with the country in helping to consolidate and make stronger its institutions by working much more closely with the national authorities and all political stakeholders in terms of guidance, through an open and frank dialogue, so as to bring back peace and security.

I now give the floor to the representative of Timor-Leste.

I would like to commend you, Mr. President, on your assumption of the Security Council presidency for this month and to thank you for inviting me and my delegation to address this meeting. I wish also to thank Mr. Modibo Touré, Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Guinea- Bissau, and the African Union Special Representative to Guinea-Bissau, Mr. Ovídio Pequeno, for their briefings today. I also commend Mr. Touré for the efforts he has undertaken since he assumed his post. I am honoured to address the Council on behalf of the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries (CPLP), whose members are Angola, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea- Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, Sao Tome and Principe, and my own country, Timor-Leste. The CPLP member States regret the evolution of the political situation since the last Council meeting on Guinea-Bissau (see S/PV.7632) and are deeply concerned at the current political impasse. The CPLP will continue its close cooperation with all partners in Guinea-Bissau in order to ensure sound coordination in all our efforts. We welcome the efforts being made by ECOWAS to support Guinea-Bissau, in particular the decision to nominate the Heads of State of Sierra Leone, Senegal and Guinea to meet and conduct discussions with the political leadership in that country with a view to finding a political solution and preventing the escalation of the conflict. We call on all stakeholders, namely, the organs of sovereignty, the political parties, civil society and others, to continue to engage in a constructive, inclusive political dialogue while respecting democratic principles and the Constitution. Statesmanship is required at this time to move the country forward so as to meet the aspirations of the people of the Guinea- Bissau for greater political stability and socioeconomic development, as well as for the consolidation of the rule of law and the protection and promotion of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. The CPLP also wishes to acknowledge the armed forces of Guinea-Bissau, which have displayed remarkable professionalism by not interfering in the political crisis, and wishes to urge the armed forces to maintain this position. The document presented by President Jose Mário Vaz and former Prime Minister Domingos Simões Pereira at the donor round table in Brussels in March garnered the support of the international partners. It is deeply concerning that the instability in the country has forced international partners to delay disbursements of pledges made in March. Such delays will only affect the people of Guinea-Bissau, who are already suffering a highly negative social and economic impact. The CPLP wishes to recognize the concerted efforts of the international community to assist Guinea- Bissau in this crisis. In this regard, we appreciate and commend the efforts of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC), in particular those of the Ambassador of Brazil, Antonio Patriota, in his capacity as chair of the Guinea- Bissau configuration of the PBC, as well as the support provided by the European Union, the African Union and the United Nations. We would also like to acknowledge the important role of the International Contact Group on Guinea-Bissau, and remain prepared to co-organize its next meeting. To conclude, we recognize that the path travelled by Guinea-Bissau has been difficult, but we stand firmly in solidarity with our Bissau Guinean brothers and sisters and we are confident that Guinea-Bissau is a country with a bright future.

I now invite Council members to informal consultations to continue our discussion on the subject.