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Roy Van der DRIFT, p. 225-240

Démocratie : guerre et légitimité en Guinée-Bissau
La guerre qui a brusquement éclaté à Bissau en juin 1998, suite à la tentative de coup de force du président Nino Vieira cherchant à évincer Ansumane Mané, a montré le degré de décomposition avancée de ce régime quasi dictatorial. Jusqu’à cette date, il était pourtant soutenu par la communauté internationale et en particulier le Portugal et une France ravie de voir un pays nouveau rallier la francophonie. Le soutien massif de la population aux insurgés a pris de surprise le régime et ses sponsors étrangers. Ainsi les Sénégalais intervenus avec la bénédiction de Paris en sauvetage d’un président failli se sont heurtés à une très vive résistance. On ne saurait pour autant en conclure qu’il s’est agi d’une guerre civile : le conflit est resté confiné à l’armée même si ce sont les civils qui ont subi les pertes les plus lourdes. L’auteur était présent pendant les événements et a donné à son analyse la forme d’un reportage sur le vif.

Democracia : guerra e legitimidade na Guiné-Bissau
A guerra que bruscamente explodiu em Bissau em Junho de 1998, na sequência da tentativa do presidente Nino Vieira de afastar Ansumane Mané pela força, mostrou o avançado grau de decomposição deste regime quase ditatorial. Até essa data, no entanto, ele era apoiado pela comunidade internacional e particularmente Portugal e uma França encantada por ver mais um país juntar-se à francofonia. O apoio massivo da população aos insurrectos tomou de surpresa o regime e os seus padrinhos estrangeiros. Assim, os senegaleses que intervieram com a bênção de Paris em socorro de um presidente em queda confrontaram-se com uma forte resistência. Não se poderá disto concluir que se tratou de uma guerra civil : o conflito ficou confinado ao exército, embora tenham sido os civis que sofreram as mais pesadas perdas. O autor presenciou os acontecimentos e deu à sua análise a forma de uma reportagem a quente.

Democracy : War and Legitimacy in Guinea-Bissau
The war which suddenly broke out in Bissau in June 1998 in the wake of the attempted show of strength by President Nino Vieira, who was seeking to overthrow Ansumane Mané, demonstrated to what extent this almost dictatorial regime has fallen apart. Up to that date, however, it had been supported by the international community and in particular by Portugal and France, the latter being delighted to see another country joining the world French-speaking community. The massive support given to the rebels by the population took the regime and its foreign sponsors by surprise. The Senegalese who intervened to save the fallen President, with the blessing of Paris, were thus faced with strong resistance. Yet we cannot conclude that it was a case of civil war : the conflict remained confined to the army itself, even though it was the civilians who suffered the greatest losses. The author was present during the events and has given his analysis in the form of a live report.