Guinea-Bissau's president planning to dissolve govt

Guinea-Bissau President José Mario Vaz is planning to dissolve the government, according to the country’s Prime Minister.

An AFP journalist said that Mr.Vaz had held discussions with party representatives, the Prime Minister, religious leaders and military chiefs as well as several diplomats on Monday.

Media reports say that the president was clear and straightforward to the delegation that he would dissolve the government.

Bissau has been in a political crisis since August 2015 after the dismissal of Mr. Domingos Simões Pereira Vaz who had been the Prime Minister for fourteen months.

The African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security, Smail Chergui, has charged that the country should resolve its political difference amicable to avoid any tensions.

We continue to closely monitor the situation in #GuineaBissau &encourage the country's elites to resolve political differences thru dialogue

— Amb. Smail Chergui (@AU_Chergui) May 10, 2016

Since 1980, Guinea Bissau has undergone nine coups or attempted coups.

The government plans to retire nearly half the army’s 5,000 soldiers, including former coup leaders, over the next five years as part of military reforms seeking to ensure long-term stability.