Guinea-Bissau legislative election, 2008

A parliamentary election is scheduled to be held on 16 November 2008 in Guinea-Bissau. [http://apanews.net/apa.php?page=show_article_eng&id_article=58886 "Guinea Bissau to hold parliamentary polls in November"] , African Press Agency, 26 March 2008.]

The head of the National Electoral Commission (CNE), El Hadj Malam Mané, said on December 8 2007 that the election would be held between October 23 and November 25 2008. On December 5 2007, President João Bernardo Vieira met with 35 party leaders, and 33 of them agreed to the CNE's date range; two parties, the National Unity Party and the Party for Democracy, Development and Citizenship (PADEC), disagreed, wanting the election to be held in March or April 2008. [http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gECLHQsLRZjR-KeAp4gYIBEyh-ng "Guinée-Bissau: les élections législatives se tiendront fin 2008"] , AFP, December 8, 2007 fr icon.]

At a rally in Gabu on July 17 2007, President Vieira said that the election would be held together with the next presidential election in 2009 in order to save money, [ [http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=68&art_id=nw20070717215548894C837926 "Guinea-Bissau polls postponed"] , AFP ("IOL"), July 18, 2007.] but the National People's Assembly did not agree to this.

In a speech before the National People's Assembly on 24 March 2008, Vieira sharply criticized Prime Minister Martinho Ndafa Kabi's government for not adequately preparing for the election, saying that "the government did not create the conditions to facilitate the holding of the legislative elections within the times required by the Constitution". He also noted that the Assembly's mandate would expire on 21 April 2008, four years after the previous election, and that afterwards the Assembly's work have to be handled solely by its Standing Committee. On 25 March, after consultations with political party representatives, civil society, the CNE, and foreign diplomats, Vieira decided on 16 November 2008 as the date of the election.

On 27 March, the Assembly voted to extend its mandate to November; of the 67 deputies present, 65 deputies voted in favor of the extension and two opposed it. [ [http://apanews.net/apa.php?page=show_article_eng&id_article=58981 "Guinea Bissau MPs vote to extend parliament’s mandate"] , African Press Agency, 27 March 2008.] The extension was viewed by many as a challenge to Vieira, since he had said that the Assembly's work would be handled solely by its Standing Committee after 21 April, [http://apanews.net/apa.php?page=show_article&id_article=61028 "Le Parlement bissau-guinéen défie la présidence de la République"] , African Press Agency, April 17, 2008 fr icon.] and it provoked significant opposition. The African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) opposed the extension, while the Social Renewal Party (PRS) and the United Social Democratic Party (PUSD) supported it. [http://apanews.net/apa.php?page=show_article&id_article=60810 "Le Conseil d’Etat demande la non prolongation du mandat des députés Bissau guinéens"] , African Press Agency, April 15, 2008 fr icon.] A group of 20 deputies who opposed the extension said on April 15 that the extension was a violation of the Constitution and that they would not participate in any parliamentary sessions after April 21; [ [http://apanews.net/apa.php?page=show_article&id_article=60771 "La prolongation du mandat des députés divise les parlementaires bissau-guinéens"] , African Press Agency, April 15, 2008 fr icon.] meanwhile, the Council of State asked the Assembly to reverse the extension. However, the Assembly voted to uphold the extension on 16 April, with 68 deputies in favor, seven opposed, and seven abstaining.

A meeting intended to assess the political situation was held on April 18 between Vieira, the government, the Assembly, and the Council of State. Subsequently, civil society organizations called for the resignation of Prime Minister Kabi, accusing him of making death threats against Fernando Gomis, a member of the Assembly, at this meeting. The organizations said that Kabi was unable to control his anger and as a result it was not appropriate for him to lead the government. Additionally, the organizations called on Vieira to not promulgate the extension of the parliamentary mandate, and they threatened to launch protests if Vieira did not dismiss Kabi's government and dissolve the Assembly. [ [http://apanews.net/apa.php?page=show_article&id_article=61245 "La société civile demande la démission du premier ministre"] , African Press Agency, April 19, 2008 fr icon.]

On May 19, Vieira said that he had enacted the law providing for the extension of the parliamentary mandate. While remarking that those opposed to the extension were correct, he said that it was nevertheless necessary to approve it for the sake of peace and stability. [ [http://apanews.net/apa.php?page=show_article_eng&id_article=64060 "Guinea Bissau leader enacts controversial law extending MPs’ term"] , African Press Agency, May 19, 2008.]

On April 1, speaking to representatives of international organizations and diplomats, Prime Minister Kabi called on the international community to assist in raising the 3.7 billion CFA francs required for the election's budget. He said that the Portuguese government had agreed to supply the necessary electoral material. [ [http://apanews.net/apa.php?page=show_article_eng&id_article=59444 "Guinea Bissau appeals for funds to hold parliamentary polls"] , African Press Agency, April 1, 2008.] Three months later, Cristian Nabitan, the Secretary of State for Administrative Reform, announced the approval of a large shipment of electoral materials from Portugal, including ballots, ballot boxes, voting booths, and indelible ink, on July 1; he said that this shipment represented 75% of the materials Guinea-Bissau needed for the election and that another shipment would arrive in Bissau on the next day. The materials were valued at about 41 million CFA francs. The Portuguese government also said that it would send electoral observers if asked to do so. [ [http://apanews.net/apa.php?page=show_article&id_article=68157 "Près de 75% du matériel électoral déjà disponible en Guinée Bissau"] , African Press Agency, July 1, 2008 fr icon.]

An electoral census began on 3 July 2008, scheduled to end on 23 July. [ [http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90855/6456153.html "Guinea-Bissau's president urges participation in electoral census"] , Xinhua ("People's Daily Online"), July 22, 2008.] In the early part of the registration period, the number of citizens registering was reportedly low, although Minister of the Interior Certório Biote said on July 9 that the process was going well. [http://www.panapress.com/freenewspor.asp?code=por015701&dte=10/07/2008 "Brasil e PNUD financiam processo eleitoral na Guiné-Bissau"] , Panapress, July 10, 2008 pt icon.] PRS President Kumba Ialá returned to Bissau from Morocco on July 7 2008 to register for the election. On this occasion, he predicted that the PRS would win the election with a majority of seats, and he called on every citizen "from 16 to 120 years old" to vote. [ [http://www.panapress.com/freenewspor.asp?code=por015625&dte=08/07/2008 "Kumba Yalá garante vitória do seu partido nas eleições legislativas"] , Panapress, July 8, 2008 pt icon.] In a speech to the nation a few days before the scheduled end of registration, Vieira also urged all citizens of voting age to register, and he said that the period could be extended to enable more people to register. [ [http://www.panapress.com/freenewspor.asp?code=por015983&dte=21/07/2008 "Presidente bissau-guineense exorta compatriotas ao registo eleitoral"] , Panapress, July 21, 2008 pt icon.] It was subsequently announced on July 22 that the registration period would be extended to July 26 due to financial and logistical difficulties. [ [http://www.panapress.com/freenewspor.asp?code=por016019&dte=22/07/2008 "Prorrogado processo de recenseamento eleitoral na Guiné-Bissau"] , Panapress, July 22, 2008 pt icon.]

The government and the United Nations Development Programme signed an electoral financing agreement on July 10 2008, providing about $430,000 US dollars.

After Kabi dismissed the directors of customs, taxes and the treasury on July 25 2008 without notifying PAIGC in advance, PAIGC decided to withdraw from the stability pact that was signed by PAIGC, the PRS, and the PUSD in March 2007. [ [http://www.panapress.com/freenewspor.asp?code=por016154&dte=27/07/2008 "PAIGC retira-se de Pacto de Estabilidade Política Nacional"] , Panapress, July 27, 2008 pt icon.] [http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=79558 "GUINEA-BISSAU: Elections fears as unity government splits"] , IRIN, July 31, 2008.] There were concerns that PAIGC's decision could cause instability that might negatively affect the election.

On August 1, the Supreme Court annulled the law extending the deputies' terms until the election. [ [http://www.panapress.com/freenewspor.asp?code=por016306&dte=02/08/2008 "Anulada lei sobre prolongação de mandato de deputados na Guiné-Bissau"] , Panapress, August 2, 2008 pt icon.] After consultations with the political class, civil society, and the Council of State, [http://www.french.xinhuanet.com/french/2008-08/06/content_686062.htm "Le président bissau-guinéen nomme un nouveau Premier ministre"] , Xinhua, August 5, 2008 fr icon.] Vieira dissolved the National People's Assembly on August 5, [http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=79660 "GUINEA-BISSAU: Uncertain future as President dissolves government"] , IRIN, August 6, 2008.] leaving only its Standing Committee in place. He also appointed Carlos Correia—who was previously Prime Minister under Vieira from 1991 to 1994 and from 1997 to 1998—as Prime Minister on the same day, replacing Kabi. A new government headed by Correia was appointed on August 9. [http://apanews.net/apa.php?page=show_article_eng&id_article=72113 "Guinea-Bissau gets 21 new cabinet ministers"] , African Press Agency, August 10, 2008.] [http://www.panapress.com/freenewspor.asp?code=por016470&dte=09/08/2008 "Novo primeiro-ministro bissau-guineense forma Governo"] , Panapress, August 9, 2008.] This government was dominated by Vieira loyalists [http://ww1.rtp.pt/noticias/?article=358216&visual=26&tema=2 "Guine-Bissau: Novo PM divulga lista completa do seu Governo"] Lusa (rtp.pt), August 9, 2008 pt icon.] and members of PAIGC, including PAIGC dissidents who were supporters of Vieira. The appointment of one of these PAIGC dissidents—Cipriano Cassamá—as Minister of the Interior was deemed especially significant, due to the Interior Ministry's responsibility for the election. The PRS was given five posts in the government, while the Republican Party for Independence and Development (PRID) and the United People's Alliance (APU) were each given a single post.

Shortly after Correia's appointment, a coup plot allegedly led by the head of the navy, Rear Admiral Americo Bubo Na Tchuto, was said to have been thwarted. According to an army spokesman, Na Tchuto asked other senior officers to support his plot, which was planned to occur on August 7, but when he asked the chief of staff of the army to join the plot, the latter ordered Na Tchuto's arrest. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7550768.stm "Guinea Bissau 'foils coup plot'"] , BBC News, August 8, 2008.] Na Tchuto was placed under house arrest, but he escaped and fled to The Gambia, where he was arrested by the Gambian authorities on August 12. [ [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/08/13/news/Gambia-Coup-Suspect.php "Gambia arrests alleged coup plotter"] , Associated Press ("International Herald Tribune"), August 13, 2008.]

On August 11, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon released a statement saying that he was "deeply concerned over the mounting political and security tensions in Guinea-Bissau" and calling "on all national stakeholders to work cooperatively and peacefully together in the national interest and in full respect of the rule of law". [ [http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=3348 "Statement Attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General on Guinea-Bissau"] , UN Secretary-General statement, August 11, 2008.]

An African Union pre-election assessment mission, led by Anil Gayan of Mauritius, arrived in Bissau on August 18; the mission was intended to determine whether the appropriate conditions for holding the election existed. Members of the mission met with Prime Minister Correia on August 21, and Correia affirmed the government's intention to hold the election on schedule in November. [ [http://www.panapress.com/freenewspor.asp?code=por016751&dte=22/08/2008 "UA avalia organização de eleições na Guiné-Bissau"] , Panapress, August 22, 2008 pt icon.]

By law, candidate lists must be submitted at least 60 days before the election is held. As the available period entered its final week, Supreme Court President Maria do Ceu Silva Monteiro expressed concern on September 10 that none of the parties had submitted their lists to the National Electoral Commission or the Supreme Court, although 17 parties had stated their intention to participate in the election. [ [http://apanews.net/apa.php?page=show_article&id_article=75046 "Signes d’inquiétudes à Bissau, au sujet des législatives de novembre"] , African Press Agency, September 11, 2008 fr icon.] 21 parties and coalitions submitted candidate lists by the end of the week and were approved by the Supreme Court. Lists submitted by 12 other parties were rejected because they were submitted an hour too late. The approved lists included two coalitions, the Democratic Alliance and the Alliance of Patriotic Forces, as well as two new parties, PRID (led by former Prime Minister Aristides Gomes) and PADEC (led by former Prime Minister Francisco Fadul). [ [http://apanews.net/apa.php?page=show_article_eng&id_article=75590 "Bissau high court endorses lists of legislative candidates"] , African Press Agency, September 17, 2008.]

A European Union pre-election evaluation mission was sent to Guinea-Bissau, and on September 18, Prime Minister Correia held discussions with the mission about electoral preparations. The mission was led by Harro Adt, the Special Envoy of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the Mano River Basin, who expressed optimism regarding Guinea-Bissau's political situation. [ [http://apanews.net/apa.php?page=show_article_eng&id_article=75739 "EU pre-election mission visits Guinea Bissau"] , African Press Agency, September 19, 2008.]

After the National Election Registration Commission published the lists of registered voters, some citizens who had registered complained that they were not included on the lists. There were reportedly many errors in the lists, and the Interior Ministry promised to rectify the situation so that the final lists published by the CNE would be accurate. [ [http://apanews.net/apa.php?page=show_article_eng&id_article=76535 "Omissions, errors mar Guinea Bissau’s voter registration lists"] , African Press Agency, September 29, 2008.]

References