At an informal meeting of the PBC’s Guinea-Bissau configuration on 16 July, Ambassador Maria Luiza Ribiero Viotta (Brazil), Chair of the configuration, informed Member States on recent developments in Guinea-Bissau, including the status of peacebuilding and security in the country. Guinea-Bissau’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Mano Queta joined the meeting to brief the membership on the most pressing issues facing his country, notably Guinea-Bissau’s battle against drug trafficking. The Special Representative for the Secretary-General (SRSG) in Guinea-Bissau, Mr. Joseph Mutaboba gave Member States a brief description of the PBC’s activities in the country, and outlined areas for further improvement. 

The SRSG’s remarks were followed by an update on efforts to combat drug trafficking and organized crime given by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).  Finally, Mr. Paulo Drummond, Mission Chief in Guinea-Bissau for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) informed Member States on the country’s progress and remaining gaps on the road to economic recovery.

The meeting was marked by a shared understanding of the critical need for reform of the security sector and approach to criminal activity in the West African region, in order to achieve sustainable peace in Guinea-Bissau. Contrasting views on implementation were identified. Though several Member States expressed their worries about Guinea-Bissau’s future due to current insecurities in the country, the Minister of Foreign Affairs cited measured progress in the peacebuilding process in his country, and called for respect, patience, and support from the international community in this challenging venture.

Security Sector Reform

Military Reform
Noting Guinea-Bissau’s difficult past with regard to its military, the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Mano Queta noted the need to reform the ranks of its presently ill-regarded military.  The first step in the reform of Guinea-Bissau’s armed forces, the Minister propounded, is to retire its older members (ex-combatants).  Trained as youths for the life of a soldier – a generation of men have known no existence apart from the military.  As a result, their necessary retirement cannot be implemented without due consideration of their future welfare as ex-combatants.  

Reform cannot stop there, the Minister continued, as retirement of ex-combatants must occur simultaneously with the recruitment of youth.  A new generation of soldiers in Guinea-Bissau must reflect a reformed mentality within the armed forces and more broadly, within Guinea-Bissau itself.  As the country moves forward on a more democratic and peaceful path, its armed forces must embody Guinea-Bissau’s newfound respect for justice and respect for the rule of law.  Impunity, going hand-in-hand with instability and crisis, the Minister noted, must be eliminated especially for the nation’s armed protectors.

In support of security sector reform (SSR) in Guinea-Bissau, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) plans to contribute 33-34 million dollars (US) to the process until 2012.

Member States React
Several Member States, notably the European Union (EU), condemned the appointment of the new military chief, General Antonio Indjai – leader of the 1 April coup attempt, and voiced their objection to the continued unlawful detention of Vice-Admiral Jose Zamora.  The new military chief’s drug-trafficking ties also undermine the security sector reform (SSR) process. 

If the former military chief, Zamora is not released and acquitted, and if violations against the rule of law in Guinea-Bissau continue, the EU threatened to retract its financial support to the country.  The EU’s reaction to General Indjai’s recent appointment reflects broad the criticism of the selection from the international community, despite the President of Guinea-Bissau’s assertion that the appointment was made to preserve peace and security in the country.

Portugal asserted the need to reestablish constitutional order and respect for democracy in Guinea-Bissau.  Important to the country’s transition to a peaceful, democratic state, Portugal added, is the subordination of the military to civilian rule, best demonstrated by an active stance against impunity following the events of 1 April. Similarly, Luxembourg and France emphasized the need to renew the population’s confidence in its military. Germany also called for legitimate legal proceedings to address the attempted coup this Spring.  

Drug Trafficking

A main concern for Guinea-Bissau and a major threat to its peacebuilding aims is the scourge of drug trafficking in the region.  Drugs bound for consumption in Europe and the Americas pass through West Africa – taking advantage of the region’s fragile countries, and their vulnerable or unprotected borders. Despite the government’s declared commitment to fight drug trafficking and organized crime within its borders, Guinea-Bissau lacks a navy or air force to monitor and defend itself from such illicit activity.  Foreign Affairs Minister Mano Queta, the UNODC, Guinea, and Portugal agreed that drug trafficking must then be viewed as a sub-regional problem, and all West African countries must stage a unified front against this common problem.  Guinea-Bissau’s involvement in drug trafficking threatens the stability of the entire region.  As the major consumers of these drugs, the international community (mainly the West) should also lend its support for Africa’s fight against drug trafficking.

Many Member States emphasized the need for political will in the fight against drug trafficking.  Not only would such support preserve Guinea-Bissau’s rule of law, it would also help to achieve long-term stability in the country. The Minister of Foreign Affairs asserted that Guinea-Bissau’s government is committed to this initiative, but adequate funding is necessary to implement the necessary reforms.

UNODC work in Guinea-Bissau
The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reported that in July 2010, the Office completed the rehabilitation and refurbishment of Bafata and Mansoa prisons, with funding from the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF).  In addition, UNODC is working closely with the UN’s Peacebuilding Support Office in Guinea- Bissau (UNIOGBIS) to implement security sector reform (SSR), specifically through the National Anti-Narcotic and Criminal Justice Programme. Further, the Office is continuing its capacity building program with the judiciary police in Guinea-Bissau, and is running a Training Academy for the country’s security forces (under the South-South Cooperation initiative). A Law Enforcement Base Training Center will be inaugurated this month.  Finally, UNODC is commencing targeted initiatives to extend assistance outside of Guinea-Bissau (inter-agency pilot stations, etc.). Under the West African Coast Initiative and following the mission in February to Guinea-Bissau this year, UNODC is holding discussions with local authorities for the establishment of a Transitional Crime Unit.

Economic Situation

In a briefing to Member States, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) reported that Guinea-Bissau’s government has created an economic program (facilitated by the IMF) targeting economic growth and poverty reduction in the country.  Through the IMF’s assistance to Guinea-Bissau in recent years, the country has accumulated a substantial technical basis to facilitate the implementation of this new economic program.  However, in order to ensure its success, the continued support of regional and international partners is required.

Since weekly conversations between the IMF and Guinea-Bissau’s government were established in 2009, the country has made significant progress in implementing its economic policy. Especially under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF), which began in January this year, the country has already seen distinct improvement.  A follow-up mission (for the ECF) in September will hopefully reveal more positive results.

Debt relief has been resumed for Guinea-Bissau for the first time in ten years during a 6 July meeting of the Paris Club creditors. Guinea-Bissau is drawing nearer to the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) completion point (the Paris Club grant is conditional upon Guinea-Bissau reaching this completion point). If Guinea-Bissau reaches this point and receives the promised debt relief, its government will be able to pursue high spending for long-term development programs, such as health, education, infrastructure, etc.