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Embroiled in political row, Guinea Bissau president opens talks on new government
Guinea-Bissau's President Jose Mario Vaz arrives to speak with journalists after a meeting with his Portuguese counterpart Anibal Cavaco Silva (not pictured) at Belem presidential palace in Lisbon, June 19, 2014. PHOTO BY REUTERS/Rafael Marchante
14/08/2015
BISSAU (Reuters) - Guinea Bissau President Jose Mario Vaz opened talks with the country's main political parties on Friday to form a new government, after he fired the previous cabinet in a power struggle with the prime minister.
Vaz dismissed Prime Minister Domingos Simoes Pereira on Wednesday in a row caused partly by overlapping duties in Guinea Bissau's semi-presidential system. But the ruling PAIGC party, to which both men belong, said on Thursday it would name Pereira to lead the new government - a move Vaz is expected to block.
The United Nations, which has a mandate to promote peace and strengthen democracy in Guinea Bissau, says the country is now experiencing a "political crisis".
A former Portuguese colony, Guinea Bissau, has a long history of instability, suffering nine coups or attempted coups since 1980. In recent years it has become a major transit point for cocaine smuggled from South America to Europe.
Pereira, popular with Western donors, helped secure more than 1 billion euros ($1.12 billion) in financing at a March conference to help stimulate the economy after a 2014 election. But Portugal has said political uncertainty could endanger the much-needed assistance.
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