The UN Security Council on Thursday urged continued support for national reconciliation in Guinea-Bissau after a series of assassinations has created a power vacuum and crippled the beleaguered government, according to a council presidential statement released here.
The 15-member council urged the government and political parties to create "the best conditions for holding a free, fair and transparent and credible presidential election."
Guinea-Bissau's political parties recently announced that elections will be held on June 28 to replace the assassinated president Joao Bernardo "Nino" Vieira, who was killed in March in retaliation after an explosion killed his opponent and army chief, General Batista Tagme Na Wai.
In March the head of the National Assembly, Raimundo Pereira, was sworn in as interim head of state, tasked with organizing elections within 60 days as required under the constitution.
However, holding elections on June 28 is twice the length of time allowed by the constitution after a president's death. Prime Minister Carlos Gomes Jr. announced that the extra time was needed to secure the 4.6 million U.S. dollars needed to run the elections.
Joseph Mutaboba, the UN special representative in Guinea-Bissau, told the Security Council on Wednesday that a "sound commission of inquiry (into the assassinations) is essential to end the cycles of violence and impunity in the country."
He also told the Security Council that "it is important to send a signal to the security forces and government of Guinea-Bissau that they are responsible for protecting and upholding the human rights of the country's people."
The Commission of Inquiry into the attacks began its work on March 12 while another inquiry has been set up by the military to investigate General Tagme's assassination.
The security situation in Guinea-Bissau remains particularly precarious as the West African country has become the main transit point for Colombian cocaine-smuggling cartels into Europe.
On April 20, a roundtable will be held on security reform in Praia, Cape Verde to address and review ongoing projects aimed at stopping illicit drug trafficking and other conflict issues, such as cattle theft.
Having fallen to drug-fuelled coups and civil conflict, the country's economic situation remains fragile as there is a severe cash flow difficulty. Various states and international organizations such as the International Monetary Fund have initiated discussions with the government about future budget support but it was stressed that the country had to show fiscal stability.
Source:Xinhua
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