Bissau: O factor gambiano

By Musa Ndow The Daily Observer, Banjul The Gambian leader, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya AJJ Jammeh Babili Mansa on Tuesday received in audience a special envoy of the Bissau-Guinean president, Jose Mario Vaz, at State House in Banjul. The Bissau-Guinean emissary, Antonio Cabral, defence adviser to president, affirmed to the State House press corps shortly after a marathon discussion with President Jammeh behind closed-door that he was in Banjul as special envoy of the president of Guinea Bissau in the framework of the relationship that exists between the two sister countries. "We are used to consulting each other on different issues. This is the reason I am here as a special envoy of my president for our regular contacts and consultation with the Gambian authorities. It has been a long time my president didn't visit The Gambia. So this is why he sent me to his brother and friend to explain to him what is the situation in Guinea Bissau. This is normal between the two countries," he said. Recent political crisis in Bissau Following a long-awaited return to democratic normality, after the April 2014 electoral processes, Guinea-Bissau was entangled a political crisis stemmed in part from differences between the president and his prime minister in interpretation of the constitution and the president's role in government decision-making. The constitution of Guinea Bissau outlines a largely ceremonial role for the president but over the years, as Guinea Bissau has been plagued by military coups and political instability it seems the practice has been for the president to have greater influence. Since being appointed prime minister by President Vaz and the formation of a government in July 2014 (which marked the restoration of constitutional order following the 12 April 2012 coup), Simões Pereira has sought to abide more strictly by the constitutional definition of the responsibilities of the government. Disagreements have since revolved, for example, around the use of aid money.