2 ministers sacked in G/Bissau

By Frederic Tendeng
Guinea Bissau’s President, Malam Bacai Sanhá, on Monday sacked Oscar Antonio Barbosa and Carlos Mussa Balde, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, and Minister of Agriculture, respectively. Until now the reasons for their dismissal are not yet known.
As a replacement for Mr Barbosa, Guinea Bissau’s National Electoral Commission chairman, Higino Lopes Cardoso, was appointed Minister of Energy and Natural Resources. In a context characterized by continuous political suspicion, the new minister seems to be a man of consensus. Higino Lopez Cardoso was in effect recommended to President Malam Bacai Sanhà by Prime Minister Carlos Gomez Junior, who happens to be a friend to the sacked Energy minister, Oscar Antonio Barbosa.
Before chairing his country’s Electoral Commission, Mr Lopes Cardoso, the newly appointed minister, held top civil service functions, including the position of Permanent Secretary for Raymond Pereira, while the latter held the position of transitional President.
In a similar development, President Malam Bacai Sanhà appointed Barros Banjai Bacar as new minister of Agriculture, in replacement for Carlos Mussa Balde who had been suspended from his position for almost a month. Balde is facing a judicial investigation following allegations of corruption leveled against him while he was Minister of Fisheries.
Barros Banjai Bacar, the new minister of Agriculture, will exercise his functions assisted by Thomas Gomes Barbosa, the youngest executive member of the ruling PAIGC party, who will man the position of new Secretary of State for Environment.