The President of Guinea-Bissau, Jose Mario Vaz, has fired the prime minister and dismissed the government, following escalating disagreements with Prime Minister Domingos Simoes Pereira.
The rift, threatens the stability seen there since the free and fair elections of 2014.
The United States is carefully watching the political situation in Guinea-Bissau. We call on leaders to seek dialogue and consensus in resolving this crisis in a manner that serves the best interests of the Bissau-Guinean people.
We commend the calm reaction of all parties and call on security forces, civil society and political leaders to continue to act peacefully, and in accordance with the constitution and the rule of law. Managing political disagreement is a natural part of democratic rule and we encourage continued constructive dialogue between leaders.
At the March 2015 Brussels International Conference for Guinea-Bissau, the President and Prime Minister presented a vision of political and economic development for the country that garnered the support of the international community. The best hope for further progress on this agenda is for leaders to quickly come together and recommit themselves to the stated objectives.
The United States looks to Bissau-Guinean leaders to show the world they can work together with the international community to move forward with political and economic development.
