APPG Opens Youth Parliament in Bissau

National Popular Assembly, Bissau18/09/2012

The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Guinea-Bissau today participated in the opening session of the National Youth Parliament in Bissau. The initiative was organised by NGO Plan International and was held in the National Popular Assembly building in Bissau.

Amongst those in attendance were a cross-section of Bissau-Guinean parliamentarians, religious leaders and civil society organisations. The initiative has been praised by the international community as a means through which young people in Guinea-Bissau can achieve mutual understanding in the midst of the country's political difficulties.

Founded over 75 years ago, Plan is one of the oldest and largest children's development organisations in the world. It works in 50 developing countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas to promote child rights and lift millions of children out of poverty. In 2011, Plan reached 56,500,000 children in 58,053 communities. Plan is independent, with no religious, political or governmental affiliations.

Foreign Office Minister Condemns Forcible Seizure of Power

13/04/2012

Foreign Office Minister Henry Bellingham comments on the attempted coup d'etat in Guinea-Bissau.

Minister for Africa, Henry Bellingham  said:

"I am deeply concerned about reports of an attempted coup d’état in Guinea-Bissau and strongly condemn the forcible seizure of power.  We call for the immediate release of those that are being held and the restoration of constitutional rule.  The second-round of Presidential elections due on 29 April should be held as scheduled.  We welcome the robust and swift ECOWAS statement which demonstrates the same strong leadership on this issue that they have shown over the situation in Mali."

UK STATEMENT FOLLOWING FIRST ROUND OF 2012 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

28/03/2012

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UNITED KINGDOM ELECTORAL OBSERVATION MISSION

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS, REPUBLIC OF GUINEA-BISSAU

HELD ON 18 MARCH 2012

INTERIM STATEMENT

28 MARCH 2012

Following a formal invitation from the National Commission of Elections (CNE) of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau and from the National Popular Assembly of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, the United Kingdom Parliament’s All-Party Parliamentary Group for Guinea-Bissau deployed a mission of eight observers and eleven support staff to monitor the first round of the presidential elections that took place on Sunday, 18 March 2012. The Mission was approved by Minister for Africa, Henry Bellingham MP, Her Britannic Majesty’s Ambassador, H.E. John Marshall, and was funded by the United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). The United Kingdom also made a financial contribution to the organisation of the electoral process.

It is the intention of the Mission to hold a full press conference on the conclusion of the electoral process. This Interim Statement serves as a communiqué on the first round of the process, and has been released in conjunction with the Formal Declaration of Results by the CNE today.

Peter R. Thompson, Head of Mission, was assisted in the preparation of the deployment by two Strategic Advisers: Lord Teverson of Tregony, Chair of the House of Lords EU/Foreign Affairs Committee; and David Stephen, former Special Representative to Kofi Annan in Guinea-Bissau. The Mission was deployed on 4 March 2012 and will remain active until the conclusion of the electoral process.

The Mission would like to congratulate the Interim President of the Republic, H.E. Raimundo Pereira, for the timely and constitutionally adherent organisation of the electoral process and would also like to commend political stakeholders for their consensus on the timing of elections.

In advance of the vote, the Mission met with the Interim President of the Republic, Interim Speaker of Parliament, CNE President, Minister of Interior, Chief of Police, Secretary of State for Communities, all major political parties, leaders of all major religious faiths, various human rights organizations and civil society groups. Meetings were held with Ambassadors of European Union Member States and with the European Union Head of Delegation. The Mission would like to place on record its gratitude to the European Union Delegation for its technical assistance.

The Head of Mission participated in the two meetings of International Observer Missions organized by H.E. Joseph Mutaboba, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General and Head of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Support Office (UNIOGBIS).

The Head of Mission has also consulted regularly with the Heads of Mission of the observation missions of the African Union, CPLP, ECOWAS, Republic of Nigeria and United States of America.

The Mission visited four Regional Election Commissions (CREs) to observe the preparation of the electoral process in the interior regions, and observed the campaigns of all major political parties in the urban and rural contexts. The depth of preparation undertaken by Regional Election Commissions was highly satisfactory given the short timeframe, and the conduct of political parties during the campaigning period was mature and good-natured. In the preparatory phase, all stakeholders were welcoming and transparent in allowing the Mission to observe their work.

The Mission was deployed in six regions of Guinea-Bissau (Bissau Autonomous Region, Biombo, Cacheu, Oio, Bafata, Gabu) on the day of the vote. The Mission observed the opening of polling stations, monitored the voting process throughout the day, and then observed the closure and counting of votes. During the course of the day, no major discrepancies or irregularities were either observed by the Mission or reported to the Mission.

Minor material and logistical problems included issues with the punctuality of mobile ballot boxes, a widespread shortage of ballot box seals and peripheral materials such as adhesive tape. However, it is the view of the Mission that these matters did not affect the integrity or fairness of the voting process. The transparency of the counting process was particularly noteworthy and is to be commended.

It is the conclusion of the Mission that the first round of the electoral process was conducted in a free, fair and transparent manner.

The Mission is hopeful of a timely second round of the electoral process. Candidates are encouraged to respect the legal processes that are in place to deal with grievances and appeals. Above all, the Mission implores the people of Guinea-Bissau and their political leaders to abstain from the justification and use of violence or extra-judicial action to resolve disputes stemming from the electoral process.

Peter R. Thompson

Head of Mission

Bissau, 28 March 2012

APPG MEMBERS MEET PORTUGUESE PARLIAMENT

24/02/2012

Members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Guinea-Bissau this week met with representatives of the Portuguese Parliament.

The meetings were on the invitation of Monica Ferro, a member of the Assembleia da Republica's committees on Foreign Affairs, Defence, Guinea-Bissau and Development. Dr. Ferro has agreed to join the APPG's election observation mission to the Republic of Guinea-Bissau in March.

The discussions centred on inter-parliamentary and inter-APPG cooperation on matters pertaining to Guinea-Bissau.

APPG TO MONITOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

24/02/2012

It has been announced that the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Guinea-Bissau is to send ten election monitors to the Republic of Guinea-Bissau for the country's presidential elections.

The mission, which is to be funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), has the support and encouragement of both the European Union and United Nations resident representations. Guidance will be provided by the UK Electoral Commission, a reprasentative of whom shall comprise part of the team.

More details to follow shortly.

APPG Represented at State Funeral

15/01/2011

Representatives of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Guinea-Bissau have today attended the state funeral ceremony of HE Malam Bacai Sanha, who passed away on 9 January in hospital.

Ian Paisley Jnr and Peter Thompson had already planned to visit Bissau this week to address the National Reconciliation Conference Organising Committee in their capacity as observers, on a visit jointly supported by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the National Popular Assembly of Guinea-Bissau.

They attended the repatriation ceremony at Bissau's airport, the state ceremony in parliament and the military burial at the Fortaleza d'Amura army barracks in the capital, Bissau.

Before departing from London, the two were invited to meet with Minister for Africa, Henry Bellingham MP.

In the earlier part of their visit last week, meetings were held with government ministers and civil society representatives and a visit was made to a British-run church mission in Canchungo, Cacheu region. The Guinean parliamentary group on the UK was also assembled for a meeting on inter-parliamentary relations. A report on the visit will be submitted to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office next week.

Death of HE Malam Bacai Sanha

09/01/2011

The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Guinea-Bissau has extended its deepest condolences to the National Popular Assembly on learning of the passing away of HE Malam Bacai Sanha, President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau.

President Sanha died in the Val de Grace hospital, in Paris, following illness. Minister for Africa, Henry Bellingham MP, has sent his condolences to Speaker of Parliament HE Raimundo Pereira, who in accordance with the constitution has taken over as interim President until elections are organised.

Reconciliation Observer Appointments

15/12/2011

The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Guinea-Bissau would like to congratulate Ian Paisley Jnr and Peter Thompson on their appointments as observers to the National Reconciliation Conference of Guinea-Bissau.

The appointments, which has been welcomed from various entities in the international community, will allow Mr. Paisley and Mr. Thompson to use their experiences in the UN-backed process. The appointments were ratified by the National Reconciliation Conference Organising Committee, comprising various civil society representatives and international organisations resident in Guinea-Bissau.

Guinean Parliamentarians Conclude Visit to UK

11/11/2011

The President of the National Popular Assembly of Guinea-Bissau, HE Raimundo Pereira, and its Vice-President Manuel Serifo Nhamajo, today concluded their historic visit to the United Kingdom, organised by the APPG.

The visit was supported by the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) and welcomed by the governments of both countries. Among the engagements during the visit were: a private tour of Westminster Abbey; meetings with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; a conference at the University of Birmingham; meetings with Lord Speaker Baroness D'Souza and Deputy Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle MP; a formal APPG meeting, and a trade conference.

A full report has been submitted to the IPU British Group and will be available to parliamentarians and interested parties in due course.

Guinea-Bissau Parliament Confirms Visit to UK

01/10/2011

The APPG for Guinea-Bissau has confirmed the National Popular Assembly for Guinea-Bissau's intention to lead the country's first official visit to the United Kingdom.

The visit will take place between Monday 7th and Friday 11th November 2011, led by Raimundo Pereira, President of the National Popular Assembly and Manuel Serifo Nhamajo, Vice-President and leader of the Assembly's parliamentary group on the United Kingdom.

The visit is expected to include parliamentary business as well as cultural and academic visits.