UN urges prompt Guinea-Bissau polls

The UN Security Council urged Guinea-Bissau’s transitional government Wednesday to abide by announced election plans, warning of sanctions against those opposing a return to constitutional order. After several delays, Bissau announced April 13 presidential and parliamentary elections to end a period of political instability that began with a coup two years ago. The vote was originally due to take place within a year of the overthrow of prime minister Carlos Gomes Junior’s regime, but it has been postponed several times. After hearing a report from the UN special representative in the country, Jose Ramos-Horta, the 15 UN Security Council members expressed their “concern at the continued delays in the electoral process.” “It is imperative to hold presidential and legislative elections without further delay,” they added in a unanimous declaration. The Security Council members also expressed their “readiness to consider further measures as necessary, including targeted sanctions against civilian and military individuals who undermine efforts to restore the constitutional order.” They especially warned military officials against meddling with the electoral process or ignoring the vote results. Transitional authorities must “fight effectively impunity and promote justice by ensuring that perpetrators are brought to justice” in a country with rampant drug crimes, they added. Ramos-Horta stressed to council members that voter registration had been an “undeniable success,” with more than 776 000 eligible voters enrolled - or 95% of possible voters. “This is a surprising, impressive record,” Ramos-Horta added, noting a final voter list was expected by the end of next week. The former East Timor president and 1996 Nobel Peace Prize winner said “the technical conditions for the elections are therefore in place and no further delays should be considered.” “No further excuses should be accepted at all,” he added. Guinea-Bissau, which gained independence from Portugal in 1974 after a war with its colonial master lasting more than a decade, has suffered intermittent unrest since its liberation. The chronic volatility has fanned poverty in the country of 1.6 million with few resources other than cashew nuts and fish, attracting South American drug cartels that have turned it into a hub of cocaine-trafficking for West Africa. It has seen a series of military coups attributed largely to the unprecedented bloating of the army after the war.