Guinea-Bissau’s President Umaro Sissoco Embalo has threatened to expel a political mission sent by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), according to a statement from the bloc on Sunday March 2.
The tension stems from a disagreement over the duration of Embalo’s presidential term, which began in 2020. The political opposition in the West African nation argues that his term should have concluded last week, while the Supreme Court of Justice has ruled it will end on 4 September. The dispute has raised fears of potential unrest in a country with a history of military coups.
The conflict over Embalo’s mandate has sparked a heightened political climate, with the opposition pushing for earlier elections. Embalo, who served as chair of ECOWAS from mid-2022 to mid-2023, declared on 23 February that both presidential and legislative elections would be postponed until 30 November. This decision has not been well received by all political factions, with the opposition calling for the immediate holding of elections. ECOWAS responded by deploying a mission between 21 and 28 February, alongside the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), to mediate and help reach a consensus on election plans.
However, the ECOWAS mission departed Guinea-Bissau on 1 March after President Embalo threatened to expel it. The bloc’s statement confirmed that the mission had left Bissau following these threats. This diplomatic row coincides with Embalo’s recent visit to Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, highlighting the complex geopolitical landscape of the region. Guinea-Bissau, a former Portuguese colony that gained independence in 1974, is facing growing uncertainty as it navigates its political and electoral challenges.