Guinea-Bissau’s opposition insists that reactivating Parliament is a key condition
for election talks. During a meeting with ECOWAS and the UN, opposition
coalitions PAI-Terra Ranka and API-Cabas Garandi stressed that restoring
Parliament is crucial to ending the country’s constitutional crisis. Geraldo Martins,
a former prime minister, emphasized that elections cannot occur under a
government that violates laws.
Following criticism of its engagement strategy, ECOWAS included additional
stakeholders in its meetings. Meanwhile, opposition leader Nuno Nabiam called
for a strike to protest President Umaro Sissoco Embaló’s extended tenure, but it did
not take effect. The ECOWAS mission is finalizing a report to facilitate inclusive
elections.
Author: Tiffany Bright
ECOWAS Mission Withdraws from Guinea-Bissau Amid Presidential Threats
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has withdrawn its
mediation team from Guinea-Bissau after President Umaro Sissoco Embalo
allegedly threatened to expel them. The mission, deployed to resolve an election
dispute, aimed to establish a political consensus on the delayed general elections
initially scheduled for last November 2024.
President Embalo postponed the elections to November 30, 2025, a move opposed
by the opposition, which claims his term expired last week. Although the Supreme
Court extended his tenure until September, tensions remain high. The ECOWAS
team, in collaboration with the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel
(UNOWAS), had drafted a roadmap for the elections but departed on March 1 due
to the president’s threats.
Guinea-Bissau, historically plagued by military coups, has faced two attempted
overthrows of Embalo, the latest in December 2023. In response, he dissolved the
opposition-controlled parliament. Amidst rising tensions, the opposition called for
a nationwide strike, while Embalo visited Moscow for discussions with Russian
President Vladimir Putin. ECOWAS now plans to present a report with
recommendations for peaceful and inclusive elections.
Guinean Human Rights League Urges ECOWAS to Ensure Constitutional Restoration
The Guinean Human Rights League met with the ECOWAS delegation in Bissau on February 26, calling for an urgent roadmap to restore constitutional order. The League’s president, Bubacar Turé, emphasized that President Embaló’s mandate ends on February 27, 2025, and urged ECOWAS to recognize this through an extraordinary summit.
The League’s seven recommendations include reinstating the National People’s Assembly’s Permanent Commission, appointing a consensus government for a three-month transition, and lifting restrictions on freedom of assembly. It also called for sanctions against those violating the Constitution.
ECOWAS acknowledged the concerns, pledging to forward the recommendations to its leadership. The delegation arrived in Bissau on February 24, the same day President Embaló announced general elections for November 30, 2025.
Guinea-Bissau’s President Sets Election Date Without ECOWAS Consensus
Guinea-Bissau’s President, Umaro Sissoco Embaló, announced that general elections will take place on November 30, 2025, before ECOWAS could mediate an agreement on the election date. The political opposition insists that elections must be held within 90 days, as Embaló’s mandate is set to end on February 27, 2025. However, the president argues that his term runs until September 4, 2025.
PAI-Terra Ranka, which won the last legislative elections but was removed from governance, joined other opposition groups in declaring that Embaló will no longer be president after February 27. ECOWAS sent a mediation team to resolve the crisis, but Embaló has dismissed their authority over Guinea-Bissau. Meanwhile, the opposition continues to push for an earlier election date, rejecting Embaló’s unilateral decision.