A delegation from the West African regional bloc ECOWAS has departed Guinea-Bissau after President Umaro Sissoco Embalo allegedly threatened to expel them. The mission, dispatched last month, aimed to facilitate a political consensus on the country’s upcoming elections.
The team had reportedly drafted a roadmap for the elections and began presenting it to local stakeholders for approval. However, following the president’s warning, they left the country early Saturday and now plan to submit their findings to the ECOWAS chair, including recommendations for conducting “inclusive and peaceful elections.” Embalo has not publicly addressed the bloc’s claim.
Political tensions in Guinea-Bissau have escalated amid disputes over the end of Embalo’s five-year term. While opposition parties argue that his mandate concluded last week, the Supreme Court of Justice has ruled that it officially ends on 4 September. General elections, initially scheduled for last November, were postponed by Embalo, who has now announced a new date of 30 November—a move opposed by opposition groups.
The country has a history of political instability, including multiple coups since independence in 1974. Embalo has survived two attempted overthrows, the most recent occurring in December 2023, after which he dissolved the opposition-controlled parliament. Last Thursday, opposition parties called for a nationwide strike coinciding with what they considered the end of the president’s term, prompting a heavy security presence in the capital.
Separately, Embalo traveled to Moscow the previous day for discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin, reportedly focusing on strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two nations.
