| Author (Corporate) | European Commission |
|---|---|
| Series Title | COM |
| Series Details | (2013) 439 final (20.6.13) |
| Publication Date | 20/06/2013 |
| Content Type | Policy-making |
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On 31 January 2011, the European Union decided to open consultations with the Republic of Guinea‑Bissau under Article 96 of the revised Cotonou Agreement. This decision was taken in the wake of the events of 1 April 2010. On that day, on the orders of the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, General Antonio Indjai, a group of mutinous soldiers arrested Chief of Staff José Zamora Induta and the Prime Minister of Guinea-Bissau, Mr Gomes Junior. Following the mutiny, General Indjai became de facto Chief of Staff before being officially appointed on 25 June 2010 by decree of the President, Mr Bacai Sanha, on a proposal from the government. The appointment on 8 October 2010 of Rear‑Admiral Bubo Na Tchuto as head of the navy constituted a further setback to good governance in Guinea-Bissau. Rear-Admiral Na Tchuto played a destabilising role in the aftermath of the mutiny of 1 April and is subject to sanctions imposed by international partners for his suspected involvement in illegal activities. The European Union regards the mutiny of 1 April 2010 and the subsequent appointment of its main instigators to high-ranking posts in the military hierarchy as a serious and evident breach of the essential elements of Article 9 of the Cotonou Agreement (respect for democratic principles) and as a case of special urgency within the meaning of Article 96(2)(b) of the Agreement. A letter was therefore sent to the Guinea‑Bissau authorities on 2 February 2011 to invite them to hold consultations. The opening meeting of the consultations took place in Brussels on 29 March 2011. In the course of the meeting, the participants were informed of the proposals of the Guinea‑Bissau side for progressively ensuring the primacy of civilian authority, improving democratic governance, guaranteeing the safeguarding of constitutional order and the rule of law, and tackling impunity and organised crime. The European Union decided on 18 July 2011, by Council Decision 2011/492/EU, to adopt appropriate measures for the fulfilment of these undertakings, including a scheme of mutual commitments for the gradual resumption of EU cooperation. An Article 96 follow-up mission took place in Bissau on 18-20 January 2012. The mission report pointed to an insufficient degree of implementation of the first group of commitments indicated in Council Decision 2011/492/EU, which ruled out unblocking the corresponding cooperation programmes. The report was endorsed by the Council’s Africa Working Group on 15 February 2012. The Commission considers it important that Council Decision 2011/492/EU is not allowed to expire, as it provides a fundamental framework for the promotion of democratic stability in Guinea-Bissau. It is therefore proposed that it be further extended until 19 July 2014. |
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| Source Link | http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM:2013:439:FIN |
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| Countries / Regions | Africa, Europe |
