The European Union will not extend a mission in Guinea-Bissau because the country has failed to respect the rule of law since an army mutiny in April, the EU said on Monday.

The existing mission, launched in June 2008, will end on Sept. 30 when its mandate expires, the EU said in a statement.

"Political instability and the lack of respect for the rule of law in the country make it impossible for the EU to deploy a follow up mission, as originally foreseen, without compromising its own principles," the statement said.

An army mutiny on April 1, led by General Antonio Injai, ousted Guinea-Bissau's military chief and briefly detained the prime minister.

The European Union has since repeatedly expressed concern at the detention of civilian and military leaders, as well as the impunity of those behind the mutiny, and called on Guinea-Bissau to respect the rule of law.

But on June 25, Injai was appointed chief of the armed forces, frustrating the EU's efforts. Monday's statement said Injai's appointment "confirms that the conditions for deployment of the new mission are not met".

U.N. officials say the tiny country on the coast of West Africa has become a hub of the drug trade between Latin America and Europe.
 

Reuters