“It is important to regularize the democratic functioning of the country and its institutions, to ensure that there are no political imprisonments, to ascertain electoral truth, and to restore constitutional order,” stated Luís Montenegro when questioned by journalists at the conclusion of the sixth Portugal-Mozambique summit held today in Porto.
Accompanied by the Mozambican head of state, Daniel Chapo, the Portuguese Prime Minister affirmed that the country will “always be available to collaborate and cooperate” with Guinea-Bissau, adopting a stance that will not escalate verbal exchanges or provoke reactions and counter-reactions.
“It will always be about reconciling positions, bringing together those principles shared by the entire community of Portuguese-speaking countries: the principles of democracy, the humanistic values, and the preservation of the interests of the populations and institutions,” Montenegro emphasized.
“This is what we will continue to do, naturally hoping that our Guinean brothers will also make the effort that falls upon them, more than anyone else, to peacefully resolve the situation and focus the country on its development and the promotion of the well-being of its people,” added the Portuguese Prime Minister.
Guinea-Bissau is suspended from ECOWAS, as well as another regional organization, the African Union, as a result of the coup d’état on November 26, when a High Military Command seized power, deposed President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, who fled the country, and suspended the electoral process.
The Council of Ministers of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) also recommended to the heads of state the suspension of the country from that organization.
“We naturally stand by our Guinean brothers, the Guinean people, who surely aspire to a situation of stability, peace, and tranquility to progress toward the future,” Montenegro stated, acknowledging that the situation in Guinea-Bissau is “unsustainable” and is being analyzed by the Community of Portuguese Language Countries, which is currently under Guinean leadership.
“We have been in discussions with all CPLP countries, both for the management of CPLP itself and for the contribution that is our obligation to provide, without direct interference in the affairs of each member state, but the contribution we can make to resolving the most pressing issues in each one,” Montenegro concluded.
When questioned on the same topic, Mozambican President Daniel Chapo stated that the country is waiting for the electoral process to be completed, as he had mentioned in an interview with Lusa on Monday.
“The process, as far as I’m aware, is still ongoing because there were elections, the results have not yet been officially announced, and while they are not disclosed, for Mozambique, it is a matter of waiting until the results are announced and, based on that, we will really take a position,” he said.
“What we are doing at the moment is observing the course of events and waiting for the official results to be announced by the established electoral bodies within Guinea-Bissau,” added the Mozambican head of state.
