{{Guinea has recalled 125 of the its diplomats who have been serving in various missions abroad.}}
Those recalled are expected back in Conakry this weekend, sources said.
Francois Lounceny Fall, the country’s minister of foreign affairs, said the measure was intended to rationalise the embassy staff and add value to its diplomatic missions.
He also revealed that some of the recalled diplomats had overstayed in their workstations.
Mr Fall, who also ran for the presidency in 2010 and once served a Prime Minister under the regime of the late President Lansana Conteh, said the measure will help save about $5 million yearly.
Expressing frustration over poor infrastructures and services in some of the country’s foreign missions, the minister also promised to better results.
{{Losses}}
Earlier,the head of Guinea’s diplomacy argued that the country was spending more money on the diplomatic missions compared to returns.
Guinea has over 20 diplomatic missions abroad while its foreign affairs ministry’s annual budget is pegged at $47 million.
“2013 is going to be a crucial year for our country’s diplomacy which is bound to become pragmatic, competitive and motivated,” he was quoted as saying upon his nomination to the post three months ago.
A similar measure was taken by the new Senegalese government which shut down a few of its missions abroad, cut down on the largest embassy staff in Paris.
NMG
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