REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA

EXECUTIVE MANSION

MONROVIA, LIBERIA

  Office of the Press Secretary to the President                            

To End Guinea Bissua Political Crisis ECOWAS Leaders Sign Final Communiqué; Mandate Stakeholders To Respect The Conakry Agreement

Guinea Bissua:  ECOWAS political leaders have signed a final Communiqué aimed at ending the political crisis in Guinea Bissua while mandating all stakeholders to respect the ‘Conakry Agreement’.

In furtherance of a briefing to the  Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government presented by H.E. Professor Alpha Conde of Republic of Guinea on the recent Agreement, signed by all state holders of Guinea Bissua on October 14, 2016 in Conakry, Guinea and on the margins of the Maritime Security Summit held in Lome, Togo on October 15, 2016, the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government tasked Her Excellency President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Chairperson of the ECOWAS, to, as a matter of urgency, follow-up with all stakeholders  on the implementation of the signed agreement.

According to a dispatch, the Chairperson of Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State, President Sirleaf led a Presidential Mission to Bissau on 5^th November 2016 accompanied by Foreign Minister Marjon Kamara to provide the opportunity that would lead to a decisive progress in solving the persisting crisis in Guinea Bissau.

The Mission recognized that the current political stalemate puts at risk Guinea Bissau’s stability and development. It must be overcome by the swift appointment of a consensual Prime Minister without delay who has the confidence of the President of the Republic, in accordance with the Conakry Agreement.

The meeting was informed of the conclusions of the Presidential Mission to Guinea Bissau led by the  Chairperson  of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government and President of Liberia  and assisted by  H.E. Marcel A. de Souza, President of ECOWAS Commission, Representative of the ECOWAS Mediator, Yousouf Kiridi Bangoura, Minister of State, representing Alpha Condé, President of Guinea, the Commission for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Mrs. Halima Ahmed and supported by the Representative of ECOWAS, African Union, United Nations and European Union among others.

Pursuant to this decision, ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government signed a final Communique which, focuses on the following six points:

1. That the stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to the Conakry Agreement;
2. Encourage the stakeholders to accelerate the reintegration of the 15 “dissident” MPs into the PAIGS, in compliance with the  Conakry Agreement;
3. The appointment by the President of the Republic of a consensual Prime Minister without further delay, who has the confidence of the Republic;
4. The formation of all-inclusive government, taking into account the parliamentary representations of the political parties;
5. The convening of parliamentary sessions in the shortest possible time;
6. The organization  of a national dialogue roundtable to discuss the ‘Stability Pact’ meant to articulate key constitutional and institutional reforms before  2018 legislative elections as stated in Conakry Agreement;

Meanwhile, the High-Level ECOWAS Mission reiterated its appeal to all stakeholders of Guinea Bissua to respect the Conakry Agreement. The Chairperson of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government and President of Liberia thanked the government and people of Guinea Bissua for the warm welcome andcourtesy accorded her and the mission.

The final Communique was signed by H.E Mrs. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of the Republic of Liberia and Chairperson of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, H. E Jose Mario Vaz , President of the Republic of Guinea Bissua and H.E Marcel A. de Souza, President of the ECOWAS Commission

President Johnson Sirleaf and delegation returned to Liberia late Saturday evening.