BISSAU, Nov 30 (NNN-XINHUA) — Guinea-Bissau’s transitional president, Horta Inta-A, appointed members of the new cabinet on Saturday.
According to a statement from the Presidency’s Office of Communication and Public Relations, the new government consists of 23 ministries and five secretariats of state.
Key appointments include Joao Bernardo Vieira as minister of foreign affairs, international cooperation and communities, Mamasaliu Embalo as minister of interior and public order, and former foreign minister Carlos Pinto Pereira as minister of justice and human rights.
All members of the new cabinet are said to be linked to the electoral camp of deposed President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, with four having served in the previous government.
Earlier, Inta-A appointed Tomas Djassi as chief of general staff of the armed forces and Ilidio Vieira Te as prime minister and minister of finance.
Guinea-Bissau held presidential and parliamentary elections on Nov. 23, with Embalo seeking re-election. The results were initially expected on Thursday.
On Wednesday, the military declared it had taken “full control” of state authority to counter “attempts by certain political actors to undermine national stability,” subsequently dismissing Embalo. Senior military officer Inta-A was sworn in as transitional president on Thursday for a one-year term. — NNN-XINHUA
