Kufuor leads high-power ECOWAS team to Guinea Bissau

Accra, Sept. 18, GNA- ECOWAS Chairman President John Agyekum Kufuor, on Thursday led a high-powered ECOWAS team to Bissau, Guinea Bissau, as part of efforts to restore constitutional rule in that country, following last Sunday's military coup d'etat.

The team included President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas, Executive Secretary of ECOWAS and Ghana's Foreign Minister, Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade is expected to join them in Bissau.

The trip comes at the heels of a visit by an ECOWAS fact-finding mission, which returned on Wednesday from the former Portuguese colony after holding consultations with the junta leaders.

Speaking to newsmen at the Kotoka International Airport, Mr Kwabena Agyepong, Press Secretary to President Kufuor, reaffirmed ECOWAS' commitment to see democracy return to Guinea Bissau.

He said ECOWAS' primary aim is to initiate constitutional arrangements, which will ensure that the military returns to the barracks. "It is in line with ECOWAS' commitment to ensuring democratic governance devoid of military insurgencies in the sub-region." Ousted President Kumba Yala on Wednesday resigned to make way for a transitional government and to ensure peace.

The soldiers, led by the Chief of Staff, General Verissimo Correia Seabre, announced the take-over last Sunday, dismissing the government and setting up a transitional government to include "all national political orientations".

Bissau junta set to step down

A military junta, which ousted President Kumba Yala of Guinea Bissau last Sunday, will agree to hand over power to an interim government on Thursday.

The coup leaders are to sign a transition pact in the presence of West African leaders, including Nigeria's Olusegun Obasanjo and Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade.


Mr Yala, relinquished powers on Wednesday, saying that he was resigning "in the name of national unity, and in the interest of resolving our problems peacefully".


Since the coup, the junta has insisted that it has no intention of holding on to power, and has taken steps to set up a transitional government, which will be tasked with guiding Guinea-Bissau to elections.


Assurances


Regional mediators said on Wednesday that they have received assurances from the armed forces that the soldiers would return to their barracks once an interim government of national unity was formed.

Bissau Archbishop Jose Camnatne, is leading a committee to propose the structure of the transitional government, which is expected to be announced by Thursday.


Several African countries, as well as the United Nations, had condemned the coup and called for the president's reinstatement.


But the army refused to give ground and there was said to be relief among many ordinary people that President Kumba Yala had been removed.

Civilian government pledged

Mr Kumba Yala, who has been under house arrest since the army overthrew him, had repeatedly postponed fresh elections after he dissolved parliament last year.


Coup leaders broadcast his resignation speech over state media hours after it was recorded.

Looking sad and serious, he called for the "immediate formation of a civil transitional government of national unity".


A statement issued by the visiting West African delegation - including foreign ministers from Ghana, Senegal, Guinea, Nigeria, Gambia and Cape Verde - said coup leaders had pledged the transitional government would be exclusively civilian.


The statement called for a "civilian of high repute" to lead the government and for the transition period to be of "reasonable duration", AFP news agency reported.


At the end of it "credible, free and fair legislative and presidential elections would be conducted."


Guinea-Bissau's streets quickly returned to normal after the coup and there are now few soldiers visible.