Dakar, 10 February 2022 - The Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Mahamat Saleh ANNADIF, today paid a one-day visit to Guinea-Bissau.

During his visit, Mr. ANNADIF was received in audience by His Excellency Umaro Sissoco Embaló, President of the Republic of Guinea Bissau.

At the end of the audience, the SRSG declared: “Our visit follows the coup de force suffered by the government of the Republic of Guinea Bissau on February 1, 2022. We have come to offer our condolences to the families of the disappeared, reaffirm our solidarity and reiterate our condemnation of any unconstitutional change”.

He also met with the group of P5 partners, composed of the African Union (AU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries (CPLP), the European Union (EU) and the United Nations, extended for the occasion to other representatives of the diplomatic corps. He also chaired a meeting with the United Nations country team.

Reaffirming the importance of the stability of Guinea-Bissau for peace and security in the subregion, the Special Representative called on the Bissau-Guinean actors to maintain an inclusive dialogue and to work together to decisively address the structural challenges that hinder the consolidation of democratic institutions, peace and development.

He also reiterated the commitment of the specialized agencies of the United Nations to work with all partners, including ECOWAS, to provide the necessary support to the people of Guinea-Bissau.