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UN urges Guinea Bissau to hold elections as soon as possible

13 September 2013 02:56 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. UN Security Council on Thursday called on Guinea Bissau to ensure its general elections to be held as soon as possible and to promote internal political dialogues, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

"The members of the Security Council stressed that it is imperative that the presidential and legislative elections be held as soon as possible, taking into account the end of the transition period set on 31 December 2013,"said the council in a statement, noting that there have been delays in the electoral process. The general elections were scheduled on Nov.24.

The 15-member UN body also urged the West African country to further deepen its internal political dialogues and make sure that the elections are "credible, transparent, inclusive and democratic at all stages of the electoral process that will be acceptable to all."

In the statement, the Security Council urged political actors in Guinea Bissau to pursue constructive and inclusive dialogues aimed at building consensus on key reforms to be undertaken in the coming years.

Guinea Bissau, one of the poorest countries in the world, has a history of coups, misrule and political instability since it gained independence from Portugal in 1974.

The elections scheduled in November are meant to restore constitutional normalcy in the country after a coup in April 2012 when some soldiers seized power days ahead of a presidential run- off election.

The national electoral commission of Guinea Bissau has blamed lack of funds for the delay of the electoral process. Since 1991, the elections in the West African country has been funded by international community.

While welcoming the pledge of the European Union to provide assistance in the Guinea Bissau's electoral process, the council urged more of the country's international partners to contribute to the financing of the West African country's elections.