20 July 2009 - The United Nations and ECOWAS top-representatives in Guinea-Bissau today attended a meeting in Bissau with one of the country's run-off presidential elections candidates aimed at appeasing the tension around the electoral campaign.

The meeting with Malam Bacai Sanha was organized by Guinea-Bissau interim president Raimundo Pereira's office.
The Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNOGBIS, Joseph Mutaboba, and Col. Hamet Sidibé, from ECOWAS called on the need for a peaceful campaign.
On Tuesday, the two officials together with the interim president Dr. Raimundo Pereira will have a similar meeting with Mohamed Koumba Yala, the candidate of PRS (main opposition).
The second round between Malam Bacai Sanha and Mohamed Koumba Yala will be held on Sunday 26 July 2009.
The Secretary-General has in his report issued before the first round held on 28 June, called upon the presidential candidates to respect the decision of the electorate and to accept the final outcome of the elections. Ban Ki-moon also stressed the importance of the presidential election in Guinea-Bissau, noting that "it is imperative that the national focus after the elections be on how to unite the country to carry out tough reforms and revitalize the economy so that the goal of providing basic services and creating jobs can become a reality."
Also the Security Council resolution 1876 stressed the importance of the upcoming presidential election and "the need to have free, fair and transparent elections as a crucial and necessary step towards the full return to constitutional order, consolidation of democracy and national reconciliation."