The government newspaper, Nô Pintcha, resumed publishing on 3 September. The paper had ceased printing due to accumulated debts and lack of payments over the past year. Prime Minister Fadul, in a visit to the paper, guaranteed that the government would pay the debts. In the latest edition, the Transitional Political Pact and a transcript of the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry on Illegal Arms Trafficking report were reproduced.

Attorney-General Amine Saad traveled to Portugal on 14 September to bring information regarding the 1993 killing of a Portuguese journalist, radio sources reported. Brigadier-General Ansumane Mane was to visit Portugal as well (Publico 7/9/99), but did not travel. Radio sources report that Mane has received an invitation to Portugal for next month. Prime Minister Fadul returned from Brazil and Cuba this week, following his participation at the conference of Francophone countries in Canada.

Inflation is at 20 to 25%, low for a country emerging from conflict, reports Africa Analysis. Economic recovery may be contingent on an IMF program – which was approved on 14 September (see Donor Response, below) and the dissipation of potential tensions emanating from under-paid military. The World Bank and the International Labor Organization have plans for a US$ 10 million, 3-year program to demobilize 12,000 former combatants.

Other indicators of a slow return to normalcy: rice and fuel are back at pre-war prices, and registration for school classes has begun in Bissau. The 1998-99 school year was interrupted due to the conflict, and many students will have to repeat a year.

Journalists formed a trade union, reports Banobero (7/9/99). A civilian ombudsman’s office was created to address fraud and economic crimes. Civil society groups marched on the UN to express solidarity with East Timor, urging continued UN intervention in support of the results of the referendum.

The Partido Africano da Independência da Guiné e Cabo Verde (PAIGC) elected current Minister of Defense, Francisco Benante, as its party leader. PAIGC, the former ruling political party, ended its congress on 9 September, expelling ousted President Vieira from the party for "treasonable offenses, support and incitement to warfare". Six other party members, including former prime minister Carlos Correia, were cut from the ranks for similar reasons, reports AFP (9/9/99).

Several independent candidates have made their intentions to run for presidency known to public, although only two have officially registered with the Comissão Nacional de Eleições (CNE). In Boé, where the independence of Guinea-Bissau was proclaimed, Faustino Mbali declared his candidacy on 12 September. Mbali is the Prime Minister’s advisor. The leader of the Liga Guineense dos Direitos Humanos, human rights activist Fernando Gomes, officially announced his candidature at the beginning of the month.

Approximately 95% of the total eligible voters (115,396 persons, according to the CNE) in Bissau registered. Voter registration in the rest of the country began on 29 August and ended 9 September. Registration is also being conducted in Portugal and other countries for citizens currently residing overseas. Approximately 2,000 potential voters have registered in Portugal.

However, Caritas pointed out that humanitarian goods should be given priority by customs officials and expedited immediately upon arrival to ensure they reach those in need of assistance as soon as possible.

UNHCR estimates that 1,500 refugees are still seeking refuge in the Republic of Guinea (Conakry). They comprise the 5,545 Guinea-Bissau refugees still out of the country.

During the month of August, the NGO Bandim Health Project distributed mosquito nets to 611 pregnant women and 2,432 children under two years of age in neighborhoods of Bissau. Fewer pregnant women received nets because they been given priority in previous distributions in the Bissau and Prabis areas. A second round of distribution is currently underway.

A minor outbreak of measles was reported at the end of August. Six cases were hospitalized in the pediatric department of Simão Mendes, all from the center of Bissau. Routine measles vaccinations were conducted by the Bandim Health Project throughout Bissau, with priority given to central areas.

An excess stock of 150,000 doses of meningitis vaccines were donated by BHP to MSF, Nigeria. BHP is currently conducting surveys in Bissau and throughout the country on the impact of the conflict on nutritional status and mortality rates.

UNDP continues to support the National Health Development plan, providing medical equipment and doctors to three regional hospitals (Bafatá, Gabú, and Catio). In collaboration with UNV, Cuban doctors are working throughout the country. A Cuban orthopedist sponsored by UNV is now working at the main Bissau hospital in response to increased needs. The project had also sponsored professors at the medical school, this was suspended during the conflict. The Government has requested that the remaining funds be used to provide 24 study grants for medical students to study medicine in Cuba.

In preparation for the National Immunization Days against Polio to be held in October and December, UNICEF has delivered promotional and educational material to the Ministry of Health. During the vaccination campaign, immunization against measles and distribution of vitamin A will be carried out.

• Water and Sanitation –

MSF has conducted visits in all regions of the country to identify appropriate locations for the installation or modification of cholera treatment centers.

FAO, UNDP and ASDI (Sweden) conducted a field assessment visit on 5 September to Oio and northern regions. They met with local farmers associations to discuss solutions to problems and potential areas of assistance following the distribution of seeds, fertilizers and agricultural tools.

FAO is currently conducting a survey of areas in need of assistance with vegetable seeds for the upcoming planting season and identifying NGOs which will participate in the distribution.

• Mines -

UN agencies and organizations involved in mine action activities met to review the UNDP/ Goverment of Guinea-Bissau project document on mine action. Recommendations were made, and the project is to be submitted to the Prime Minister for review.

COAM, a group formed to conduct mine awareness activities in Guinea-Bissau, met with the Minister of Defense to discuss marking and demining areas in Bissau. The Minister of Defense and the NGO HumAid announced their intention to work together to undertake de-mining activity, to mark mined areas, and to conduct public awareness campaigns to encourage inhabitants to respect marked areas. COAM has been active since March and donated mine marking materials to the Ministry of Defense.

• Food Aid Distribution/ Food-for-Work (FFW) –

On 7 September, Caritas distributed 24 MTs of rice and 6 MTs of beans to the southern regions of Tombali and Quinara, to cover the "gap period" between planting and harvesting. Caritas indicated reports of hunger in those regions may be due to a lack of money. Stock is low, having been used during the conflict, and inhabitants cannot afford to buy rice on the market.

• Child Protection –

UNICEF is supporting the government in fulfilling its reporting obligations to the Committee on the Rights of the Child, the country report on the application of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child has been approved by the cabinet.

The UN has requested donor assistance to continue twice-weekly UN flights between Dakar and Bissau. Commercial flights were suspended during the war since June 1998. TAP Portugal has resumed flying between Lisbon and Bissau, but regional links have yet to resume.

The Representative of the UN Secretary-General convened a meeting with Ambassadors accredited in Guinea-Bissau on 6 September. The meeting was held in Bissau in response to a request from donors based in Dakar who felt there was inadequate information on the prevailing situation in Guinea-Bissau. The government of Guinea-Bissau was represented by the President’s Advisor and the Attorney-General.

The RSG requested donors to hold to commitments made at the UNDP-sponsored Emergency Round Table held in May. The UN is providing technical assistance for the electoral process, and will help coordinate international election observers.

During the meeting, the Attorney-General requested assistance in obtaining office equipment and supplies, including mechanical typewriters, for the nine regional courts. He noted that all state offices had been pillaged during the conflict.

The IMF approved US$3 million in post-conflict emergency assistance for Guinea-Bissau on 14 September. In a press release, an IMF Director noted government progress in rehabilitating administrative structures, including the budget and tax offices. IMF will support a government program on the demobilization of combatants and the strengthening of private sector operations. IMF estimates GDP could increase by 7% this year, following a decrease of –28.1% in 1998 due to the civil conflict.