Chissano laments “situations” in Guinea that prevent participation in CPLP

O former Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano lamented today “the situations” that prevent Guinea-Bissau from participating in the CPLP and wished it to return “as soon as possible”, considering that silence can help build consensus.

“ We regret that one of the CPLP [Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries] countries still has situations that prevent them from participating in the CPLP,” he told Lusa Joaquim Chissano, on the margins of a visit to the organization’s headquarters in Lisbon, where she was welcomed by the executive secretary, Maria de Fátima Jardim, and the permanent representatives of the Member States.

Referring to Guinea-Bissau, the former Mozambican Head of State said that he wished that the country would return “as soon as possible” so that the community could “beneficiate on its contribution”.

Asked about the role of CPLP in the situation in that country, Chissano stressed that he did not attend the meetings, but said: “I’ve heard that efforts are being made in various ways.”.

“There are several ways to bring consensus when there are very complex problems and the best way sometimes is silence,” he added.

Guinea-Bissau has been suspended from participating in the activities of the CPLP since December 2025, following the military coup of 26 November that year, which interrupted the electoral process. The decision of the CPLP provides that the suspension shall apply until the constitutional order is resumed.

New elections were scheduled for 6 December this year, but the transitional government and the National Election Commission considered that the conditions for voting were not met.

The previous presidential and early legislative elections had taken place on 23 November 2025, but the process was interrupted by the military coup on 26 November, before the completion of the clearance of the results.

With a commemorative medal of the 30 years of CPLP à lapela, which he received during the solemn session, Chissano expressed “admiration for the results” of the work of the organization and highlighted the diversification of its activities, in addition to the promotion of the Portuguese language.

“ The Portuguese language today serves to speak of very important content, such as peace, solidarity, on political issues of the world, on the economy, on biodiversity, on women, on human rights, and much more,” he said.

“ It is very interesting, at the time that in some organizations we find new difficulties in stabilizing within organizations and the CPLP is consolidating”, said Chissano.

The CPLP was established on July 17, 1996, in Lisbon, by Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal and São Tomé and Príncipe. It currently comprises nine Member States, after the entry of East Timor and Equatorial Guinea.