Govt 19 Nov announced new extension of voter census by fifteen days until 5 Dec, likely delaying legislative elections initially scheduled for 18 Nov until 2019. Teachers’ unions 1 Nov launched new 30-day strike over unpaid salaries and poor working conditions. Students demonstrating in capital Bissau 8 Nov to denounce paralysis of education sector clashed with police, at least eight wounded and five others arrested.

Teachers’ unions 1 Oct launched 30-day strike over unpaid salaries and poor working conditions after govt failed to implement deal that unions made with govt in 2017. Thousands protested in capital Bissau 21 Oct against lack of transparency and irregularities in voter registration process ahead of legislative elections scheduled for 18 Nov. Govt 22 Oct announced extension of voter census by one month until 20 Nov, likely delaying vote.

Electoral commission 8 Sept said legislative elections scheduled for 18 Nov should be postponed due to delays in organising vote, while regional bloc Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) called on country to organise vote as planned. Census of voters started 20 Sept one month late.

Govt and National Union of Workers 1 Aug agreed on new salary scale for civil servants, to be applied from Sept, with minimum wage rising from FCFA29,000 ($51) to FCFA50,000 ($88) a month. Civil servants 2 Aug said they had suspended their strike. Public radio and television employees 7 Aug started five-day strike to demand better salaries and working conditions. PM Gomes 9 Aug said legislative elections scheduled for 18 Nov may be postponed due to delayed arrival of equipment for registering voters.

Public radio and television employees 17 July started three-day strike, joining ongoing civil servants’ protest movement to demand better salaries and working conditions.

Parliament 19 June approved govt’s electoral calendar and plan to consolidate public finances. National Union of Workers went on strike 19-21 June to demand better salaries for civil servants.

National Union of Workers went on strike 7-9 May to demand better salaries for civil servants, 16 May called for new strike 12-14 June.

President Vaz 16 April named Aristides Gomes as new consensus PM in compliance with Oct 2016 Conakry agreement in bid to end political stalemate; Gomes formed new govt 25 April. Parliament 19 April held first session in two years, extended its own mandate, due to expire 23 April, until legislative elections scheduled for 18 Nov.

Prosecutor General Bacari Biai 13 March sent letter of complaint to regional bloc Economic Community of West African States for applying sanctions early Feb on nineteen politicians and businessmen, including himself,  loyal to President Vaz and thus allegedly undermining efforts to implement Oct 2016 Conakry agreement.

For undermining efforts to implement Oct 2016 Conakry agreement, regional bloc Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) 6 Feb applied sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes, on nineteen politicians and businessmen loyal to President Vaz: eight of fifteen dissident members of African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), six MPs from opposition Social Renovation Party (PRS) and five others close to him, including his son Emerson Goudiaby Vaz. Thousands of Vaz supporters protested against sanctions in capital Bissau 18 Feb.