On February 26, 2025, members of the “Civil Society Collective of Guinea-Bissau” protested near the French National Assembly in Paris, demanding the withdrawal of the Legion of Honor awarded to Guinean President Umaro Sissoco Embaló. The award was granted by French President Emmanuel Macron in December 2024, just a day after Guinean diaspora members were assaulted during a meeting with Embaló in Paris.
The protesters condemned Embaló’s authoritarian rule, citing repression, kidnappings, imprisonments, and assassinations, which they argue contradict the democratic values associated with the Legion of Honor. A letter sent to Macron described the award as a “grave violation of justice, integrity, and human rights.” The demonstrators also launched an online petition for the immediate withdrawal of the honor.
The protest occurs amid rising political tensions in Guinea-Bissau, as opposition groups claim that Embaló’s mandate ends on February 27, 2025, necessitating elections within 90 days. However, Embaló has set November 30, 2025, as the election date. Critics accuse ECOWAS of favoring Embaló’s administration instead of acting as neutral mediators in the crisis.
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