International mediators are traveling to Sao Tome and Principe Saturday, in an effort to end a political crisis in the tiny West African island nation. Representatives from Brazil, Portugal and several African nations are heading the mission to the capital city, Sao Tome, three days after Major Fernando Pereira led a bloodless coup against the government of President Fradique de Menezes. Major Pereira has agreed to hold talks on resolving the crisis. An official statement broadcast on state radio Friday said he welcomed mediation efforts by the United States, the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries and the islands’ former colonial power, Portugal. Coup leaders arrested a number of key government officials, and continue to hold many of them, but Parliament Speaker Dionisio Dias has been released. The deposed president, who was in Nigeria at the time of coup and has remained there, met Friday with Nigeria’s President Olusegun Obasanjo and Mozambique’s leader, Joaquim Chissano, who is also chairman of the African Union. Full Story
About OODA Analyst
OODA is comprised of a unique team of international experts capable of providing advanced intelligence and analysis, strategy and planning support, risk and threat management, training, decision support, crisis response, and security services to global corporations and governments.