Guinea-Bissau army will stay out of politics: UN

United Nations (United States) (AFP) - Guinea-Bissau's army has pledged to stay out of a political struggle in the coup-prone west African country, a UN envoy said Friday.

Miguel Trovoada told the Security Council that he had received the assurances from the military chief of staff and army commanders.

"The military has stressed that they are determined to stay totally out of politics," said Trovoada.

Guinea-Bissau has been rattled by the president's decision to sack the prime minister following a series of disagreements including the naming of a new army chief.

Lawmakers this week opposed President Jose Mario Vaz's choice of a new prime minister.

Guinea-Bissau's ambassador to the United Nations, Joao Soares Da Gama, said the military had remained neutral in the dispute and voiced hope that "they will maintain this attitude of non-interference."

A military coup in 2012 threw Guinea-Bissau into chaos and the country has barely begun to recover following last year's election.