Bissau: the government of the Prime Minister appointed by Sissoco Embalo invested

Text by: RFI Follow

Despite the call to order of the ECOWAS, which indicated that it refused to recognize "organs created and installed outside the constitutional and legal frameworks", the government of Prime Minister Nuno Gomès Nabiam, appointed by Umaro Sissoco Embalo, was invested this Monday, March 2, in the presidential palace.

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With our special correspondent in Bissau, Charlotte Idrac

Nineteen ministries, thirteen state secretariats ... The government of Nuno Gomès Nabiam was sworn in the evening at the presidential palace, in the presence of the entire senior military hierarchy. Protocol ceremony, barely disturbed by a power outage. The appointed Prime Minister presented his priorities: security, education, social services, even if no minister was appointed to the health portfolio.

In the speeches, not a word on the release of the ECOWAS, which however sounds like a disavowal for Umaro Sissoco Embalo. The West African organization calls for an end to " anarchy in the country ", and is concerned about " the interference of the defense and security forces in the political sphere ".

Mamadu Serifo Djaquité, appointed government spokesperson, minimizes. “ ECOWAS is doing what is under its responsibility. And we too are there to be able to commit ourselves firmly to discuss with the ECOWAS in a very clear manner. "

This investiture ceremony on Monday evening is therefore a dismissal addressed to his detractors by Umaro Sissoco Embalo. " Illegal " and " unconstitutional " for the PAIGC. The new ministers are expected to settle in Tuesday in the government palace, still controlled by the military .

The ECOWAS position questions

Guinea Bissau therefore now has two governments, despite the Communiqué from the ECOWAS, whose position in this brawling arm wrestle raises questions. Because this Monday's press release is much firmer than the previous one, published last Saturday. The organization then simply expressed its " very great concern ", and called for " cooperation " between the Supreme Court and the National Election Commission.

The ECOWAS, mediator in the country, had nevertheless punched the table before the presidential election in late 2019, by firmly supporting Prime Minister Aristide Gomes - already dismissed in late October by outgoing president José Mario Vaz - and threatening sanctions anyone who would interfere with the electoral process.

Between the two rounds, the message was very clear: there was no question of tolerating a new coup in Guinea Bissau. The ECOWAS then mentioned a possible intervention by Ecomib , the West African standby force in the country.

But since then, the organization's position has been more ambiguous. In a press release dated January 22, the ECOWAS spoke of " final " results and " took note " of the victory of Umaro Sissoco Embalo. Was it a desire to close the file, in a situation that created a vacuum? This illustrates in any case internal tensions within the organization: Senegal last weekend again " congratulated " Umaro Sissoco Embalo.

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• Guinea-Bissau
• Umaro Sissoco Embalo

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