“It marks an encouraging step in the pursuit of stability in the country”, said Mr. Touré.

The agreement was reached at the end of the ECOWAS high-level mission to Guinea-Bissau by President Alpha Condé of Guinea President Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone.

The agreement identifies six steps to achieve stability for the remainder of the current legislature, ending in 2018. These include a round table dialogue with the various stakeholders; a consensual inclusive Government to remain in function until the 2018 legislative elections; reforms of the Constitution, territorial administration, electoral law, and the law on political parties, as well as the strengthening of the justice system; the implementation of reforms in the defence and security sectors; the withdrawal of ECOMIB within six months after Guinea-Bissau’s corresponding forces are trained; and an ECOWAS monitoring and evaluation mechanism to ensure that the conclusions of the round table  are implemented.

Congratulating the political actors of Guinea-Bissau, the Special Representative urged them to take “swift and decisive” actions to implement the agreement, “seizing the unique opportunity it presents to promote sustainable development, reform and stability for the benefit of all Bissau-Guineans.”

The roadmap was signed by the President of the People’s National Assembly, the Prime Minister, the President of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cabo Verde (PAIGC), the President of the Party for Social Renewal (PRS) and initialed by José Mário Vaz, President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, the two visiting Heads of State and the President of the ECOWAS Commission.

The Special Representative expressed his deep appreciation for the tireless efforts to Presidents Condé and Koroma who, in furtherance of the mandate adopted at the 49^th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government of 4 June in Dakar, worked with the various political stakeholders to reach this high level of consensus.

He further commended the leadership of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, Chairperson of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS and the continued support of the ECOWAS Commission towards peace and stability in Guinea-Bissau.  

The special representative further stressed that United Nations remains committed, in coordination with international partners, especially the African Union, ECOWAS, the CPLP and the European Union, to assist Guinea Bissau in this regard.