On the 26th of May, President Jose Mario Vaz named Baciro Dja as new Prime Minister of Guinea-Bissau according to a presidential decree, sparking protests among the Presidents own political party. After the President had earlier sacked his government on the 12th of May, he had called on his ruling African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) to select a new cabinet that would pull the country out of its current political crisis. With his Presidential decree, the President has ignored his own party who claim to not support Baciro Dja, who held the same position briefly last year but was removed when the supreme court decided his placement was unconstitutional. Repeating earlier mistakes, political parties were again not consulted with the placement of new political actors as the country’s political crisis is spiraling downwards. The UN Security Council has said it will take actions to prevent a crisis and calls on the country’s military not to intervene in the political conflict.

Guinea-Bissau, a former Portugese colony, has not seen a democratically elected leader serve a full term since its independence in 1974. The country has experienced nine coups or attempted coups since 1980 and drug trafficking is rampant.

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For the United Nations’ statement, click here.