After
multiple coups and a devastating civil war in which thousands were killed,
Guinea-Bissau
remains one of the poorest countries in the world.
The
situation in
Guinea-Bissau
has been described by Mrs. Migiro as being in a state of a “fragile,
post-conflict period.”
During
the 1990’s, the country’s per capita GDP dropped from 247 US dollars to 146
US dollars in 2000.
In
fact, economic growth was -1.8 percent last year and this year’s economic
performance appears to be no better and has been described by Mr Ban as being
quite “grim.”
Government
finances were only 85 percent of what they were in 2006 and the country remains
deeply in debt.
A
transitional government was formed in March of this year by the three dominate
political parties in the country (African Party for the Independence of Cape
Verde and Guinea, the Social Renewal Party, and the United Social Democratic
Party) to attempt to bring some degree of political stability back to the
country.
It
is hoped that this new government would produce a “genuinely inclusive
reconciliation process, thereby strengthening political, parliamentary and
government stability,” according
to Shola Omoregie (Secretary-General’s Special Representative).
This
government will remain in place until next year when nation-wide parliamentary
elections will be held.
Mr.
Ban commented recently that “The elections will be a test of the ability of
the country to exercise democratic governance.”
While
this transitional government has the full support of the United Nations
Peacekeeping Support Office in
Guinea-Bissau
(created in 1999), political threats to the country’s fragile government
remain.
We
are seeing that
Guinea-Bissau
is now being used as a transitional country for illegal narcotics going from
Latin America to
Europe
.
Mr.
Ban described this increased drug trafficking as a “a new and growing”
threat to the country.
Two
months ago, more than a quarter of a ton of cocaine was found being transported
by two local military officers.
The
Security Council described this crisis within the country as being part of an
“alarming increase in organized crime, drug trafficking and the proliferation
of illicit small arms in
Guinea-Bissau
.”
Thus,
the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime will send a high-ranking official
to the country to help the country fight the problem with illegal drug
traffickers.
As well as threats to its current democratic institutions in the form of
organized crime and a declining economy, the country’s new government also
facing threats from within.
Threats
to the coalition on which parties should occupy the office of the prime minister
almost tore apart the government during its first month in office.
This
situation has only temporarily been diffused by the swearing in during April of
Prime Minister Martinho Dafa Cabi.
However,
security threats remain in the form of abundance of illegal small arms and
unexploded mines and munitions planted during the country’s civil war.
Finally,
threats from a high rate of HIV infection and AIDS is threatening to tear at the
fragile social fabric of the country.
Mrs.
Migiro noted that ““like in many other countries in Africa, AIDS is having a
devastating impact on the lives and economies of communities in
Guinea-Bissau
.”
She
would later continue on by saying, “Therefore, fighting the spread of HIV
cannot be achieved without the sustained involvement of all sections of society,
including civil society organizations, the Government, media and the health-care
community.”
Despite
the fact that the European Commission has promised the country 800,000 Euros to
aid in next year’s elections and the rebuilding of the country, it remains to
be seen whether or not the coalition can survive until then.
--
by Richard Lentz, MaximsNews.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
