Centrum Stosunków Międzynarodowych - 13 May 2016: Guinea-Bissau sacks entire cabinet

On Thursday, 12th of may, president of Guinea-Bissau, Jose Mario Vaz, sacked his entire cabinet, alledging that they failed in being true in their duty of service to the people. As Vaz had informed political actors and displomats earlier that week, in an attempt to resolve the current instability, he chose the option of sacking the government rather than dissolving the Parliament and summon early elections. He demanded of the ruling party that they appoint a new cabinet to lead the country out of its political crisis. Vaz already dismissed last year PAIGC leader Domingos Simoes Pereira, resulting in the current crisis. Three prime ministers succeeded each other in only three months.

Guinea-Bissau has almost never experienced any kind of government stability ; indeed the west African state has known a series of coups, attempted coups and government dissolutions since 1974. For many years, the political instability and poverty have encouraged the development of drug traficking and rampant corruption.