Guinea Bissau's prime minister forms new government

Guinea Bissau President Jose Mario Vaz on Monday endorsed, through a decree, the new government formed a few hours earlier by Prime Minister Baciro Dja whom he had appointed three weeks ago.

The government is comprised of 16 ministers and 15 state secretaries. Out of all the ministries, the finance ministry was not immediately filled for unknown reasons.

During the swearing in ceremony, Vaz urged the new government to fight corruption and increase productivity.

"We need to fight against corruption and fight against the increase in the prices of basic products," the president said.

In his speech during the ceremony that was held in the presence of ambassadors and representatives of the international community, Dja promised to hold regular consultations with the president of the republic.

The country's largest political party, African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde, which has disputed the appointment of the new prime minister to replace its leader Domingos Simoes Pereira, has not yet reacted to the formation of the new government.

Source: XINHUA