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_WORLD WATCH______________________________
______________________GUINEA-BISSAU_______________
Bishop mediates peace pact
Agreement ends coup attempt
A weeklong coup attempt in the West African country of Guinea-Bissau was ended through the mediation of Bishop Jose Camnate of Bissau, according to a report by the Fides news service.
On November 21, General Ansumane Mane declared himself head of the country’s armed forces following general elections, triggering clashes between forces loyal to him and those loyal to President Kumba Yalla. After two days of fighting, the rebels were forced to abandon their stronghold at Bissalanca air base and retreat in small groups to the interior of the country.
Bishop Camnate told Fides that he worked with UN representative Samuel Nanan Sinkam to mediate a surrender by the rebels loyal to Mane. The bishop said that with the surrender of the general’s closest collaborators, the crisis ended.
Speaking to the future of Guinea-Bissau and General Mane, Bishop Camnate said, “I have no idea what will happen to the general, but in Guinea there must be re-education, because it is rapidly becoming a modern, multiracial society and care must be taken not to lose the country’s traditional values.”
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