By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The regional political and economic bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), on Sunday alleged that Guinea-Bissau’s President, Umaro Sissoco Embaló, threatened to expel a political mission sent to his country by the bloc.
A dispute arose in 2020 over when Embaló’s presidential term would end, raising concerns about possible unrest in the nation, which has a history of military coups.
The opposition in the West African country argues that Embaló’s term should have ended last week, while the Supreme Court of Justice has ruled that it will end on 4 September.
Embaló, who chaired ECOWAS from mid-2022 to mid-2023, announced on 23 February that presidential and legislative elections would not be held until 30 November.
ECOWAS stated on Sunday that it had deployed a mission from 21 to 28 February, in collaboration with the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), to help reach a consensus on conducting an election this year.
“The Mission departed Bissau in the early morning of 1st March, following threats by H.E. Umaro Sissoco Embaló to expel it,” ECOWAS said.
On Wednesday, Embaló visited Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Guinea-Bissau is a former Portuguese colony that gained independence in 1974.
