- The West African bloc has sent a delegation to Guinea-Bissau to engage all Guinean stakeholders in an effort to restore constitutional normalcy and boost confidence among political actors, civil society and security services.
The chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua has expressed concern over the double murder of President Joao Bernardo Vieira and his chief of staff, General Batista Tagme Na Wai.
He has further urged Bissau's armed forces and other security agencies to desist from any further action that could drag the country back to lawlessness and political instability.
Reports from Bissau said armed forces had last night called on a curfew in the city, with only the army officers roaming the empty streets.
ECOWAS Executive Secretary Mohamed Ibn Chambas said the West African body, the African Union and the international community would not accept any attempt by the Guinea-Bissau military to seize power.
He cast aside any notion that developments in Guinea and now Guinea-Bissau could be an indication that West Africa could be moving away from the path to democracy.
President Joao Bernardo Vieira, is believed to have been killed in retaliation, having been accused of being behind the ploy of the explosive that killed the army chief of staff on Sunday. The president was killed together with his driver when he allegedly tried to escape from the presidential palace on Monday morning.
Mr Vieira, 69, came to power in a military coup in 1980 before overthrown in the 1998-1999 civil war after ruling the country for 19 years. He returned to power in 2005 after winning the presidential election.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
front page
| news
| countries
| archive
| currencies
| news alerts login
| about afrol News
| contact
| advertise
| español