Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


West African Bloc Recognizes Guinea-Bissau's Disputed President

AFP

   West African nations on Thursday recognized Umaro Sissoco Embalo as
   president of Guinea-Bissau, after four months of dispute over whether
   his election was fraudulent.
   Embalo won a run-off presidential vote in the chronically unstable
   country in December, according to the country's electoral authority.
   But losing candidate Domingos Simoes Pereira, from the long-ruling
   PAIGC party, called the election fraudulent and took the case to the
   Supreme Court, which has not yet ruled.
   Embalo, a former prime minister, declared himself president in February
   without waiting for the court, creating a political impasse.
   The heads of state of Economic Community of West African States
   (ECOWAS) said in a statement that they recognized Embalo as president
   but also called for constitutional reform to be put to a referendum
   within six months.
   Experts have argued that the country's semi-presidential system
   contributes to its instability, with frequent clashes between the
   president and the prime minister.
   Guinea-Bissau has known little but coups and instability since its
   independence from Portugal in 1974.
   The country has also long struggled with poverty and corruption and it
   has also become a transit route for South American cocaine heading to
   Europe.

.