Police in Bissau fired tear gas to disperse protesters calling for new general elections 5 Nov; protests continued 11 Nov. In accordance with Oct agreement with opposition, President Vaz 14 Nov dissolved PM Djá’s govt. Vaz 18 Nov appointed general and former presidential adviser Umaro Sissoco Embalo as PM; opposition African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) 19 Nov rejected appointment citing lack of consensus, 27 Nov said it would refuse to participate in govt if invited.

Ruling majority and opposition in political dialogue 11-14 Oct discussed how to implement six-point roadmap to end crisis brokered by ECOWAS regional bloc, 14 Oct agreed to choose new consensus PM to serve until 2018 legislative elections; also agreed fifteen dissident MPs of African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) would rejoin parliament.

Following 10 Sept visit by mediators from ECOWAS regional bloc, govt and opposition 11 Sept agreed to six-point plan to end political crisis. ECOWAS leaders 20 Sept formally adopted plan including holding inclusive dialogue, forming consensus govt and pursuing constitutional and electoral reform. Following suspension of payments in June, IMF 12 Sept said it could restart payments after govt cancelled bailouts of private banks amounting to 5.5% of GDP.

Amid ongoing parliamentary standoff, ECOWAS Commission chair Marcel Alain de Souza and new ECOWAS representative in G-B Blaise Diplo met PM Djá, President Vaz and main political leaders 14-15 Aug in effort to restart political dialogue, said regional bloc’s mission (ECOMIB), deployed since 2012, will withdraw, citing high costs and pressure from African heads of state.

President Vaz and PM Djá tried to consolidate power against dominant faction of former ruling party, African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC). Supreme Court 15 July endorsed Djá’s nomination as PM. Djá from 11 July sought diplomatic and financial support from presidents of Togo, Burkina Faso and Senegal and from West African Development Bank, West African Economic and Monetary Union and Central Bank of West African States.

PM Djá, appointed 26 May by President Vaz, formed govt 2 June; gave twelve of 31 positions to opposition Party for Social Renewal (PRS) and remainder to dissidents of former ruling party, African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), small allied New Democracy Party and Vaz associates. National assembly convened 14 June after two months’ inactivity, closed third session without resolving status of fifteen PAIGC dissident MPs. Former PAIGC ministers 9 June left main govt building which they had occupied since 26 May in protest against Djá’s appointment. PAIGC and former head of state broadcasting service appealed to Supreme Court against Djá’s appointment 3 and 9 June respectively; court’s decision awaited. ECOWAS 4 June prolonged mandate of its military mission (ECOMIB) until June 2017. IMF 3 June suspended budgetary assistance on grounds that previous govt’s bailout of two commercial banks would benefit wealthy at expense of poverty reduction.

Confrontation between President Vaz and dominant faction of ruling African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) led to standoff. High court 9 May annulled earlier regional court decision to suspend mandates of fifteen dissident PAIGC MPs; PAIGC and allied parties same day accused Vaz of legal coup, reiterating call for immediate legislative elections. Vaz 12 May dismissed PAIGC-designated PM Correia, citing his failure to secure both majority in parliament and parliament’s approval of govt agenda; began consultations with all parties. PAIGC 16 May proposed Correia and PAIGC whip Califa Seidi as PM candidates and reallocation of cabinet positions. Vaz, claiming PAIGC’s proposal too vague, decided to create govt of “presidential initiative”, built on coalition of leading opposition Party for Social Renewal (PRS) and fifteen dissident PAIGC MPs; designated PAIGC dissident Baciro Dja as PM 26 May. PAIGC same day said move unconstitutional, called for popular mobilisation and refused to leave main government building. PAIGC and opposition supporters protested outside presidency; some wounded in clashes with security forces.

Supreme Court of Justice (STJ) 5 April overturned decision by permanent commission of People’s National Assembly (ANP) to cancel mandate of fifteen MPs expelled from ruling African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC). Dissident MPs could form new majority with 41 MPs from opposition Party for Social Renewal (PRS) and cause govt collapse. PAIGC President Domingos Simoes Pereira 6 April said party would abide by decision, but needed clarity on dissidents’ status as their expulsion from PAIGC remains valid and constitution forbids independent MPs. Other PAIGC supporters called for early general elections, which they believe PAIGC would win. In ANP special session 19 April President Vaz insisted he would not convene elections, urged PAIGC to find solution or he would form new legislative majority.

Tensions between President Vaz and ruling African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) persisted, focused on Jan parliamentary decision to end mandates of fifteen pro-Vaz PAIGC dissidents. Vaz 9 March pleaded for political solution following failed late-Feb and early-March attempts at dialogue. Both sides launched legal attacks: Vaz-appointed public prosecutor confirmed 18 March indictment of leading Vaz adversary Carmen Pereira for misuse of state funds; court 9 March annulled May 2015 re-election of leading PAIGC dissident MP Braima Camara as Chamber of Commerce assembly president. UNSC and AU Peace and Security Council 7 and 16 March urged courts to resolve political standoff. Armed forces chief of staff General Biague Nantan 3 March hinted civilians were attempting to buy influence in military and warned harsh punishment for coup plotters, amid reports a dozen soldiers were detained allegedly in connection with weapons trafficking. Police 14 March reported arrest of four Bissau-Guinean radical Islamists Jan and Feb.

Crisis continued within ruling African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC): in contradiction of late-Jan court ruling, different Bissau judge 8 Feb cancelled National Assembly leadership’s decision to deprive fifteen PAIGC dissidents of their mandate. Assembly leadership rejected decision but cancelled planned 15-25 Feb parliamentary session citing legal uncertainty. Consultations organised by President Vaz and joined by international officials including ECOWAS mediator and former Nigerian President Obasanjo 11 Feb failed to resolve dispute; assembly head Cipriano Cassama and PAIGC boycotted talks over presence of dissident PAIGC members.