CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS
by Alexis Gnonlonfoun, Benin, August 1998
THEME = TENSION
On 7 June 1998, General Ansumane Mané, formally Chief of Staff,
launched a rebellion.
Things have been going from bad to worse since then.
The socio-political situation is going downhill and there seems to be
no way out of the impasse in which the country finds itself
On 26 July 1998, a ceasefire was signed. 48 hours later it was broken. The future situation remains unclear. Members of Parliament sitting in extraordinary session want to find a peaceful solution - of that, there is no doubt, but the business community is being extremely cautious. Fear is everywhere but there must be some kind of dialogue if the country is to make any progress towards reaching a settlement acceptable to both warring sides. The government ought to be adopting a firm stance faced with this rebellion, but what is happening? President Vieira has had to play the role of an astute tactician and because of this, all is not clear as to what is actually happening. And so the rebellion continues.
Nino Vieira feels he's in the right. "Panafricanism", "the democratic process", are all notions taken on board by most member nations of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). And ever since Guinea-Bissau came into the Franc monetary zone, most African countries agree that Nino Vieira is also imbued with this same panafrican spirit. Obviously a "plus" for the President and his country.
Guinea-Bissau has taken its first steps towards democracy. Yet just a few years ago, multi-party politics, free trade-unions, were concepts unknown to the average citizen of Guinea-Bissau. Vieira is convinced of the necessity of Africa's fusion. He talks about an "African parliament" as a meeting place for dialogue and consultation.
It's precisely because of President Vieira's commitment to the democratic process, that he's got the support of the Economic Community of West Africa, States and the European Union.
The two months' military rebellion in Guinea-Bissau has caused inestimable suffering and destruction, changing the whole aspect of the country. At the time the mutiny broke out, the country's workers were going through a difficult struggle to improve their living and working conditions. Once the mutiny got underway, the government was completely occupied with trying to contain the situation and so had no time or, indeed, interest, in meeting the workers' legitimate claims. It should be remembered that an agreement had previously been drawn up between government and workers covering many of their demands. Now the workers are very unhappy with their political masters. They remember past promises no sooner made than broken.
True, 1998 hasn't been an easy year for Nino Vieira. He's been unable to carry through the social and political changes he had in mind. If a long-term solution is to be found to Guinea-Bissau's problems (and the present mutiny is only one of them), he has to put his house in order. It's high time for Vieira to understand that what's happened has happened, and any superficial changes he's planning to make will not be enough to put the country back on its feet.
Portugal seems to have been playing a strange role in the whole affair because its sympathies seem to be more with the rebels than with Guinea-Bissau's government. Why? The reason may lie in the fact that ever since Guinea-Bissau began to "flirt" with French-speaking countries in Africa (especially Senegal and Guinea), there's been a blast of cold air between Bissau and Lisbon. Is this the beginning of "divorce proceedings" between these two countries?
The Economic Community of West African States has been encouraging Guinea-Bissau along the road to democracy. Portugal has seen this and so considers taking an active role in peace negotiations as one way to restore its former influence with Guinea-Bissau.
Portugal is no newcomer to situations such as Guinea-Bissau's present rebellion. As a former colonial power it has had its fair share of similar predicaments in past years, especially during the post-colonial era. It's always known how to turn potentially awkward situations to its own advantage.
What is Portugal's present policy towards Africa? Ever since Guinea-Bissau became independent, it's always been a case of Portugal "running with the wind" - doing its very best to retain its former privileged position.
The present changes taking place in today's world and Portugal's official position (ever since Guinea-Bissau's independence) vis ŕ vis human rights and respect for national sovereignty give rise to a number of uncertainties which are to be regretted. Much remains to be done.
Portugal, together with the Economic Community of West African States, can certainly play an important role in pinpointing Guinea- Bissau's problems, and thus facilitate finding a solution to the rebellion. This solution must include other countries involved in the conflict - countries such as Senegal where separatists from Casamance in southern Senegal have been seeking refuge in Guinea-Bissau.
There's place for new agreements, appropriate changes, facing up to new challenges and potential dangers in any such solution.
Even if it can't yet be seen, there is light at the end of the tunnel!
END
CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS
PeaceLink 1998 - Reproduction authorised, with usual acknowledgement