Umaro Sissoco Embaló, the ousted President of Guinea-Bissau, has arrived in Senegal after being released by military forces that took control of the government earlier this week. This event follows negotiations facilitated by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) amid escalating tensions in Guinea-Bissau. The Senegalese foreign ministry reported that Embaló landed safely on a chartered military flight.
Following the coup, the military appointed General Horta N’Tam as the new transitional leader, who is expected to govern for a year. This coup occurred just one day prior to the expected announcement of provisional election results for both presidential and parliamentary elections. The military has suspended the electoral process and blocked the release of these results, alleging the existence of a plot by unnamed politicians to destabilize the country with backing from a prominent drug trafficker.
Guinea-Bissau, located between Senegal and Guinea, has a history of military influence since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974. Both Embaló and his main rival, Fernando Dias, have claimed victory in the presidential election, which took place over the weekend. Reports indicate that Dias, as well as other senior political figures, have also been detained. The new military junta has prohibited public protests and any actions deemed disruptive.
Tensions remain pronounced in the capital, Bissau, where soldiers patrol the streets and most businesses remain closed. Earlier in the day, General N’Tam emphasized that the military’s interventions were intended to protect the country’s democracy. Following the coup, land, air, and sea borders have been reopened.
ECOWAS has suspended Guinea-Bissau from its decision-making bodies until constitutional order is restored, deeming the military actions a violation of the nation’s constitutional framework. Similarly, the African Union has condemned the coup and called for a return to constitutional order, while UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern and called for an immediate restoration of constitutional governance. Guinea-Bissau has experienced at least nine coups or attempted coups in the past fifty years.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c741m97lk42o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss