Even in the face of global condemnation that greeted its sacking of the civilian government in Guinea Bissau last week, that military junta has proposed a two-year timeline to organize elections and return the country to democratic order.
“This will allow us to peacefully organise voter registration in a biometric format, and to hold legislative and presidential elections simultaneously,” said Artur Sanha, a spokesman for the political parties which took part in the pact said.
The accord which was signed late Wednesday without the participation of the country’s ruling party had the backing of some opposition parties including Kumba Yala’s. Yala was one of the two presidential candidates in a runoff vote which was derailed by the coupists.
The African Union suspended Guinea-Bissau following the coup, and the West African regional bloc, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has sent mediators to see how they normalcy can be restored to the country.
Guinea-Bissau was just weeks away from holding a presidential runoff election when soldiers attacked the front-runner’s home and arrested him along with the country’s interim president.
Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross said Wednesday that it had visited former Prime Minister Carlos Gomes Jr. and interim president Raimundo Pereira and provided medical supplies, clothes and toiletries for the country.
GET UPDATES LIKE THIS BY EMAIL
