Guinea-Bissau: few explanations on the coup attempt, the PAIGC searched
The minister and spokesperson for the Bissau-Guinean government Fernando Vaz (here in 2012).
AFP - SEYLLOU
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
The government condemned this Saturday February 5 a "
barbaric
" and "
terrorist
attack" after the attack on Tuesday February 1 at the government palace, where President Umaro Sissoco Embalo and the ministers were.
The government spokesman pointed to "
a group of soldiers and paramilitaries
".
At the same time, the police carried out an operation this Saturday morning at the headquarters of the opposition party PAIGC.
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With our special correspondent in Bissau,
Charlotte Idrac
Who were the attackers at the government palace?
“
Individuals involved in drug trafficking
,” responds the minister spokesperson Fernando Vaz.
This evokes for the first time "
the recruitment of mercenaries, rebels from Casamance
", this region of southern Senegal agitated for 40 years by a conflict with the MFDC.
How many were they?
“
Secrecy of justice
”, replies the government spokesperson.
How many people have been arrested?
And Admiral Bubo Na Tchuto, former Chief of the Navy, is he one of them?
There again, “
secret of the instruction
”.
"
An investigation is underway
."
Asked about the absence of the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, Fernando Vaz affirms that General Biague Nan Ntam is being treated in Spain for a "
small eye operation
", but that "
he is fine
".
Operation "
absolutely illegal
"
A little earlier, at the headquarters of the PAIGC, police (“
at least twenty
”) “
prevented the activists from participating in a meeting
” to prepare for the Party Congress scheduled for February 17, explains Manuel Santos, member of the standing committee.
An “
absolutely illegal
” operation, according to him.
Several PAIGC officials have questioned in recent days the official explanations after Tuesday's coup attempt, described as "
simplistic
" and "
not very convincing
".
"
There are facts and evidence, there is no intention of a witch hunt
", assures the government spokesperson.
Fernando Vaz does not specify the number of assailants on Tuesday, nor the number of arrests.
He once again points to “
individuals involved in
drug trafficking
”… And evokes the recruitment of “
mercenaries
”, “
Casamance rebels
”.
Fernando Vaz also denounces those who question the version of the authorities.
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Guinea-Bissau