ECOWAS, UNSC condemn junta for creating TNC in Guinea Bissau

[Punch]

The ECOWAS Commission has criticised the establishment of a Transitional National Council in Guinea Bissau to govern the country for two years.

A statement signed by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Kadré Ouedraogo, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Friday, stated that the junta and the 24 political parties in the country should restore democratic institutions.

The President, who described the announcement of TNC  as illegal, said ECOWAS condemnation followed the written undertaking by the junta to step aside.

The undertaking for the junta to restore constitutional rule was made at a meeting with a high-level ECOWAS delegation to Guinea Bissau on Monday.

"The Commission wishes to reiterate its rejection of the usurpation of power by the Military Command and to make it known that it will never recognise any transitional arrangement emanating from the Junta," it said.

He reiterated the commitment of the commission to the immediate restoration of constitutional order in Guinea Bissau through on-going consultations with stakeholders in the country.

He said the on-going consultations with stakeholders in the country would be discussed at an emergency summit soon.

On a similar note, U.S. Ambassador and Alternate Representative for Special Political Affairs, Amb. Jeffrey DeLaurentis, reiterated the call of the UN Security Council on the junta to restore constitutional rule to the country.

In another statement made available to NAN in Abuja on Friday, DeLaurentis reiterated the restoration of civilian structure  as contained in the Security Council Session on Guinea Bissau.

"Council members condemned the military takeover, including the extra-constitutional appointments and called for the restoration of democratic institutions and the release of all government officials who were arrested by the junta," he said.

DeLaurentis said the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UN Integrated Peace Building Office in Guinea Bissau, Mr Joseph Mutaboba, reiterated the seriousness of the situation and warned that if civilian factions became involved in violent confrontation, casualties could be significant.

He said the Council was also committed to work quickly towards the restoration of constitutional rule.

Military leaders and a group of political parties in Guinea Bissau announced the formation of the TNC, following the coup in the country on April 12.



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