Portugal will continue to support Sao Tome and Principe, which experienced a coup attempt at the end of November, in order to help its former colony find "
stability
", the Portuguese government said on Friday December 23 in Lisbon. .
“
We are going to work with Sao Tome and Principe so that the country finds stability and other prospects for the future
,” Portuguese Foreign Minister Joao Gomes Cravinho said after announcing “
financial assistance from emergency
".
Portugal will grant aid of "
15 million euros to help the country meet its immediate cash needs
" in the sectors including education, health and the rule of law, added the minister.
This announcement comes after the period of instability experienced by this small island country in the Gulf of Guinea, independent since 1975.
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Very poor Portuguese-speaking archipelago
The Prime Minister of Sao Tome and Principe, Patrice Trovoada, announced on November 25 that the army had foiled an attempted coup in this small, very poor Portuguese-speaking archipelago, a model of parliamentary democracy in Africa.
Many gray areas surround the circumstances and the chronology of events.
The government had however assured that investigations will be carried out “
to determine the circumstances of the deaths
” which occurred during these events, as well as the responsibilities of the attempted coup.
"
Sao Tome is a brother country, so that in the face of great difficulties Portugal could not remain indifferent
", underlined the head of Portuguese diplomacy.
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Portugal will continue at the beginning of next year a "
very close dialogue
" with the Sao Tomean government, as well as with "
other international entities
" such as the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP) or the International Monetary Fund (IMF ), to continue to help the country, said the minister.