20100111
africanews

The United Nations has said it would hand over to the government in Guinea-Bissau a former navy chief accused of leading a failed coup in 2008. Rear Admiral Jose Americo Bubo Na Tchuto fled to Gambia after the failed coup against former President Joao Bernardo Vieira, and he had since been living there under full protection from the Gambian leader.
guinea bissau map
But the Admiral showed up at the offices of the United Nations in Bissau where he sought asylum. It is still not clear under which circumstances he left his former safe heaven. The Gambia has characteristically remained tight-lipped about the development. There had been reports of several meetings between UN officials and the Bissau Guinean government, according to Reuters.

A joint statement was released by the UN and Bissau Guinean government. "The United Nations has committed on this day, January 8, to handing over Rear Admiral Bubo Na Tchuto to the government of Prime Minister Carlos Gomes Junior," the statement reads.

The former navy chief has been linked to many reports of drug trafficking in the region.

However, members of the civil society in Guinea Bissau have reportedly urged the Government to set Bubo Na Tchuto free in the interest of peace.

While Defense Minister Aristides Ocante told the media in Bissau that “Bubo Tchuto’s return is not a principal concern for his country”, an emergency meeting on the matter was held the very day he made his statement.

Guinea Bissau’s army chief of staff, the country’s Attorney General and senior government officials attended the meeting during which it was agreed that the law should take its due course as regards the case of Admiral Jose Americo Bubo Na Tchuto.

An official statement issued after the meeting said “the Executive is determined to apply justice on Admiral Jose Americo Bubo Na Tchuto as a means of ensuring political stability and social peace, respect for constitutional principles and the rule of law”.

The United Nations representative in Guinea Bissau, Burundi born Joseph Mutaboba, met with President Malam Bacai Sanhá and the Head of Government, Carlos Gomes Junior, on the issue of fugitive admiral.

Reports from other quarters say that President Malam Bacai Sanhà is being pressured by some of his close allies who are of the view that the fugitive former navy chief is a security threat to the nation, and that he must be forced out of the country once again.

Some of the president's aids suspect the imminence of subversive intentions behind the unexpected return of the Admiral, who was last year accused by The Gambia, his former host country, of involvement in illegal activities while enjoying his refugee status.