Tensions between President José Mario Vaz and PM Simões Pereira eased ahead of 25 March donor roundtable at which international partners pledged €1.15bn in aid over ten years. Agreement finally reached 6 March between President and PM on appointment of PAIGC member and former Defence Minister Octavio Alves as new minister of internal administration.

Constitutional reform commission inaugurated 16 Feb. UNSC 18 Feb renewed UN Integrated Office in Guinea-Bissau mandate until 29 Feb 2016.

Tensions between President Vaz and PM Pereira persisted. Natural Resource Minister Daniel Gomes said nothing known about $13mn paid by Angola for bauxite mine, perceived as attack on Vaz, finance minister at time.

Tensions within ruling PAIGC remained high: senior party figures criticised PM Pereira for neglecting party figures, relying on non-party individuals. Former presidential candidate Nuno na Biam late-Nov announced creation of new Assembly of the United People-Democratic Party of Guinea-Bissau (APU-PDG) party. Regional body ECOWAS 15 Dec announced six-month extension of 700-strong peacekeeping presence; President Vaz 17 Dec said peacekeepers would remain until defence, security sector reforms complete.

Govt continued to reap benefits from Sept removal of controversial armed forces chief of staff Antonio Injai and push for increased financial aid: Portugal 4 Nov announced €7mn assistance plan for governance support following visit to Portugal by GB PM Pereira. Casamance separatist forces 25 Nov blocked interior minister Botche Candé’s convoy near border with Senegal, Candé demanded rebels leave Guinea-Bissau. Candé resigned 28 Nov, Doménico Sanca named interim interior minister. International Contact Group on Guinea-Bissau met 18 Nov, discussed continued coordination, support for stability and development. UNSC 25 Nov announced three-month extension of UN Integrated Peace-Building Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS), to continue political, security, development assistance. Ongoing changes in distribution of power and resources generated tensions within ruling coalition Party for Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) including 10 Nov public row between finance minister Geraldo Martins and assembly speaker Cipriano Cassama over perks available to parliamentarians.

President Vaz pressed forward with reforms following Sept removal of controversial chief of staff Antonio Injai: former presidential candidate and Injai associate Nuno Nabiam, influential Party for Social Renovation (PRS) figure Artur Sanha removed from civil service during month. Despite internal debate, PRS leadership confirmed alliance with ruling Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC).

President Vaz 15 Sept dismissed head of armed forces General Antonio Indjai, leader of 2012 coup and indicted by U.S. for narco-terrorism; dismissal key moment in new regime’s 1st spate of dismissals and designations; Vaz 17 Sept named well-respected veteran General Biague Nantam as new army chief.

New regime continued reforms, encouraging international re- engagement: all internal checkpoints but one lifted 11 Aug; President Vaz 18 Aug called for multi-ethnic presidential guard. Conference for national reconciliation to be held in 2015. Database of country’s 13,000 civil servants stolen 22 Aug as govt prepares cuts to civil service.

Newly-appointed PM Pereira 4 July announced cabinet, dominated by PAIGC factions; opposition Party for Social Renewal (PRS) obtained 5 ministerial portfolios. President Vaz 10 July attended ECOWAS Summit in Accra, received body’s political and possibly financial support for reforms. Following June fact-finding mission, EU 15 July resumed cooperation with Guinea-Bissau while maintaining demands for progress toward security, renewal of army leadership, fight against impunity. U.S. 15 July invited Guinea-Bissau to Aug U.S.-Africa Summit. Former São Tomé President Miguel Trovoada appointed new UN SRSG for Guinea-Bissau 16 July.

National Assembly inaugurated 17 June, with PAIGC candidates appointed as speaker and first VP, and Social Renovation Party (PRS) President Nambeia appointed as second VP. President-elect Vaz inaugurated 23 June. PAIGC president Pereira appointed PM 25 June. Portuguese official 16 June visited Bissau, in first such trip by senior European official since April 2012 coup. AU 17 June lifted Guinea-Bissau’s suspension. Vaz attended 26 June summit of Community of Lusophone- Speaking Countries (CPLP), thus ending country’s suspension from CPLP. At summit, Portugal called for transformation of West African force in Guinea-Bissau into larger, UN-mandated force including CPLP elements.