ECOWAS mission leaves Guinea-Bissau after President Embalo threatens its expulsion
The ECOWAS team was sent to Guinea-Bissau last month to facilitate a "political consensus" on the timing of upcoming elections.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced that a mission deployed to Guinea-Bissau to help resolve an election dispute has left the country after President Umaro Sissoco Embalo threatened to expel its members.
The dispute which began in 2020, has heightened tensions that risk unrest in the country, which has had at least 10 attempted coups since gaining independence in 1974.
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Embalo, who was elected in December 2019 for a five-year term, has faced two attempted coups, the most recent being in December 2023. This led to the dissolution of the opposition-controlled parliament.
The ECOWAS team was sent to Guinea-Bissau last month to facilitate a "political consensus" on the timing of upcoming elections.
The general elections, originally scheduled for November 2023, were postponed by Embalo, who later set a new date for November 30, 2025.
The opposition, which has criticised the delay, argues that Embalo's term should have ended last week, although a recent Supreme Court ruling extended his mandate until September 4.
In a statement released on Sunday, ECOWAS explained that its team had engaged with President Embalo, political leaders and civil society groups between February 21 and 28 to try to reach an agreement on the election timeline.
They had prepared a draft agreement for a roadmap toward the 2025 elections and had begun presenting it to stakeholders for approval.
However, the mission left Guinea-Bissau early on March 1, following President Embalo's threats to expel the team.
The president has not yet responded to the accusation by ECOWAS.
ECOWAS confirmed it will now report to its president, presenting a proposal for an agreement aimed at ensuring inclusive and peaceful elections in Guinea-Bissau.
On Thursday, opposition groups called for a nationwide strike, marking the day they claim Embalo's term should have ended.
The government deployed security forces throughout the capital in response.
A day earlier, on Wednesday, Embalo had visited Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
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