Guinea-Bissau’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Communities announces that Aristides Gomes, former Prime Minister, has been granted permission to travel abroad for medical treatment.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office announced the news in a press release, saying citizen Gomes is now authorised to leave the country due to his state of health.
The decision to grant the former prime minister permission results from an agreement with the United Nations Integrated Peace building Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS).
66-year-old Gomes sought refuge in the premises of UNIOGBIS in April 2020 over fears for his safety. He received threats from the army the day after President Umaro Sissoco Embalo assumed power.
Rosine Sori-Coulibaly, representative of the UN secretary-general in Guinea-Bissau, called Gomes’ situation worrying.
The country’s foreign ministry also said in the press release that the intervention of President Embalo facilitated the negotiations, which led to the authorisation for the former Prime Minister to leave the country for medical care.
In December 2020, Sori-Coulibaly remarked that the United Nations would continue to guarantee Gomes’ safety.
Siri-Coulibaly pointed out that giving protection to Gomes is part of the United Nations’ mission and “is not a problem”.