Round of conferences on national reconciliation ends in Bissau and Biombo this weekend

To highlight the importance of the event, the opening ceremony will take place on 1 July at 4 pm at the National Assembly in the presence of national authorities and international partners.

Two meetings are scheduled in Bissau – Hotel Ankar and Hotel Lisboa - and one in Quinhamel on 2-3 July. They follow those already held across the country since early June. According to participants in these previous meetings, self-interest, lack of tolerance, lack of ethics in politics, corruption and impunity are the main issues plaguing the country therefore they have to be addressed by at the National Conference.

The organizing Commission of the National Conference "Pathways to Peace and Development" was reactivated a year ago by the National Parliament in order to bring together all the society to choose the appropriate model for reconciliation in Guinea-Bissau.

Generally speaking, Bissau-Guineans consider the National Conference a unifying instrument for the people and the key to the success of this conference passes through frank dialogue and forgiveness.

According to UNIOGBIS which supports the whole process from the regional conferences to the National, there are several models of dialogue and reconciliation being discussed, but “only Bissau-Guineans know what will be the best for their country."

In its last Resolution (2267), of February 2016, the UN Security Council requested UNIOGBIS to support an inclusive political dialogue and national reconciliation process to strengthen democratic governance and work towards consensus on key political issues particularly with regards to the implementation of necessary urgent reforms.

The Council also stressed that “any lasting solution to instability in Guinea-Bissau should include concrete actions to fight impunity and ensure that those responsible for politically motivated assassinations and other serious crimes such as breaches of constitutional order and drug trafficking-related activities are brought to justice, including through national judicial mechanisms.”