The United Nations secretary-general’s representative in Guinea-Bissau, Shola Omoregie, has negotiated an end to a 17-day crisis involving the government and prominent politician Carlos Gomes Junior who had sought refuge in the UN building in Bissau.

Gomes Junior, chairman of the former ruling African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde, previously served as prime minister. He had been a close ally of President Joao Bernardo "Nino" Vieira before the 1998 civil war but has since called him a “bandit and mercenary who betrayed his own people”.

Vieira was overthrown in 1999 and returned to power in elections in 2005.

Gomes Junior sought refuge at the UN following a series of violence incidents, including the beating in December of another outspoken opponent of the president, Silvestre Alves, and the assassination in January of Navy Commander Mohamed Lamine Sanha.

Sanha was a former leader in the junta that ruled from 1999 to 2000 after Vieira had been toppled. Gomes Junior alleged that Vieira was involved in Sanha’s death and the government issued a warrant for his arrest.

After Sanha’s died on 6 January fighting broke out in Bissau between protestors and security forces. At least one person was shot dead and one of President Vieira’s houses was destroyed.

On Monday, after having negotiated an end to the Gomes Junior affair, Omoregie gave an interview to IRIN. The following are excerpts:

IRIN: So what exactly was this about?

OMOREGIE: Gomes Junior came to the UN saying his life was in danger. When someone tells me they need protection I do what I can to help. We offered him political asylum but he didn’t want it. So we worked to get the government to assure his safety. The government has informed me now that he can return home without fear of arrest and that the government guarantees his safety and that of his family. He was released in the presence of representatives of the diplomatic community so if he is arrested now everyone will know and I have assured Gomes Junior and the government that we will continue to monitor the matter.

IRIN: Why did it take so long to resolve?

OMOREGIE: I appealed to Nino Vieira to resolve the matter quickly. In the process of negotiations I found that feelings on both sides were very strong.

IRIN: What kind of feelings? Do the sides have ideological differences or religious or ethnic issues? Or was it mostly personal animosity?

OMOREGIE: I can’t really comment on that but what I can say is that this problem makes it crystal clear that reconciliation is a long way away. We don’t want to be alarmist but it shows that there are deeply unresolved issues under the surface. There is a need for moderation.

IRIN: The UN secretary-general’s report to the UN Security Council in December was quite strong in warning that things could explode.

OMOREGIE: The next report in March will be even stronger. In view of the disturbances of 6 January [in which protests turned violent] it shows that the reconciliation process could unravel.

IRIN: But what is at the bottom of these problems?

OMOREGIE: The issues come down to poverty. When there is a lot of suffering there is a lot of anger. Calling for reconciliation and peace when people have empty stomachs is like pouring water into a basket.

IRIN: Will the pledges donors made in November at a roundtable conference help?

OMOREGIE: If they honour their pledges then I’m sure it will.