Guinea-Bissau: Ban Ki Moon Reassures Support after President’s Death

By Staff Writer

The UN Secretary-General - Ban Ki-moon through a statement issued Monday trusts that the succession arrangements provided for in the Constitution of Guinea-Bissau will be fully respected after President Malam Bacai Sanha’s death. This will help the country transition to new leadership.

He reassures the national authorities and the people of Guinea-Bissau of the full support of the United Nations.

President  Sanhá, who was elected in Guinea-Bissau on Africa's western coast two years ago after the previous leader was assassinated, died on Monday in Paris after a long period in hospital.

The 64-year-old was admitted to the Val de Grace military hospital just before Christmas. The nature of his illness has never been made public, but the French official said he had "been in a coma for a while".

During his absence when he remained in hospital, there was a coup attempt in Guinea-Bissau which was crushed by loyal forces.

According to the constitution, the head of the National Assembly, Raimundo Pereira, is expected to take over until new elections to take place within 90 days. He served as interim head of state after the 2009 assassination of former President João Bernardo "Nino" Vieira.

Since independence from Portugal in 1974 the nation has been wracked by coups, and it has become one of the main transit points for drug traffickers ferrying cocaine to Europe. Two weeks ago the army said a top military official had attempted unsuccessfully to seize power while Sanhá was ill.

Sanhá won the 2009 presidential election held after Vieira's death, a peaceful transition of power that marked a rare bright spot for Guinea-Bissau. He became less known for what he did as president than for his frequent hospitalisations abroad, which were always described by aides as routine checkups.