Lisbon, May 15, 2026 (Lusa) - Guinea-Bissau's government met several international partners on Friday in a “high-level dialogue” to find strategies to ease the global crisis impacts on the country.

Prime Minister Ilidio Vieira Té said the initiative represents “a moment of high political, strategic and institutional importance” for Guinea-Bissau.

He spoke during the opening of a meeting bringing together representatives from several United Nations agencies, diplomatic missions, and multilateral and bilateral cooperation institutions at a hotel in the capital.

“The ongoing international crisis, which stems from tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, and its global impacts on energy, financial, and food markets, severely affects countries with fragile economies, heavily dependent on imports and still facing historical structural limitations," he said.

Local media broadcast the speech, where he noted that Guinea-Bissau "is not isolated" from these impacts.

He believed creating a "structured space for reflection, coordination and mobilisation of solutions" was vital.

Guinea-Bissau “chose not to remain passive” in the face of risks that threaten public well-being, the prime minister said.

He pointed to “deep geopolitical tensions, economic volatility, and supply chain disruptions” driven by rising energy and food prices.

He noted that current threats jeopardise Guinea-Bissau's development process.

Therefore, he said, the transitional government chose to anticipate, dialogue, coordinate, and act.

Vieira Te said the dialogue aims to transform the initiative's recommendations into concrete actions that can generate results, avoid fragmentation, strengthen institutional coordination, align priorities, resources, and responsibilities, and build a real follow-up mechanism.

“Guinea-Bissau's government remains committed to deepening economic and institutional reforms, improving public governance, strengthening transparency, consolidating fiscal discipline, and creating better conditions to build partner and investor confidence,” the prime minister said.

He added that Guinea-Bissau “wants to establish itself as a serious, responsible partner committed to dialogue, stability, and sustainable development” and will not just manage emergencies.

Vieira Té noted that the country “intends to strengthen food security, improve access to energy, reinforce social protection, and consolidate macroeconomic stability” through sustainable climate adaptation solutions.

The transitional prime minister offered a “special thanks” to the United Nations (UN) System on behalf of the Guinea-Bissau people and government for its political and technical support in organising the meeting.

*** The Lusa agency's delegation in Guinea-Bissau has been suspended since August following the government's expulsion of Portuguese media representatives. Coverage is being provided remotely ***

HFI/LYT // AYLS

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