Agenzia Fides

Bissau (Agenzia Fides) – “The arrival of the small vanguard of the contingent of the CEDEAO did not stir up particular sentiments among the population”, Fr. Davis Sciocco, PIME missionary, and director of Radio Sol Mansa, of Bissau, told the Fides Agency, where yesterday, May 17, the first 70 soldiers from Burkina Faso of the 600 who will be sent from the countries of the Economic Community of the States of West Africa (CEDEAO) to accompany the transition period towards the civil government of the country.
The soldiers from Burkina Faso have been given accommodation in Cumere, 35 Km north- east of Bissau. Soon they will follow other soldiers sent from Nigeria and Senegal. The forces of CEDEAO will take the place of the military mission sent from Angola a year ago. And it is precisely the presence of the Angolan contingent which, according to the soldiers who took over power in the uprising of 12 April, caused the coup d’état.
“We are now waiting for the nomination of the ministers”, Padre Sciocco said. The arrival of the first group of African soldiers took place on the day of the investiture of the new Prime Minister of the transition period, Rui Duarte Barros. Manuel Serifo Mhamadjo was named Head of State on 16 May for the transition period. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 18/5/2012)