13 September 2013 - The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Guinea-Bissau, José Ramos-Horta, returned to Bissau on Thursday after accompanying Transitional Prime Minister Rui Duarte de Barros, on a mission to Abuja and Abidjan with a view to generating further support for the electoral process.

The special representatives of the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) also participated in the mission, which was facilitated by Mr. Ramos-Horta.

Discussions held with Presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Alassane Ouattara in Abuja and Abidjan respectively focused on ways in which Guinea-Bissau could obtain additional technical and financial support for its general elections, scheduled for 24 November 2013.

Both presidents appreciated the role of the multilateral organisations represented and called on Special Representative Ramos-Horta to use his good offices to intercede with some bilateral partners of Guinea-Bissau. The two presidents announced that they would meet on Friday in Abuja and would, among other concerns, discuss developments in Guinea-Bissau with regard to further support for Guinea-Bissau from their respective countries and ECOWAS as an organisation.

The mission also included a courtesy call on the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Kadré Désiré Ouedraogo. President Ouedraogo announced that ECOWAS would continue to stand by Guinea-Bissau in the process of restoring constitutional order in the country.