Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo has declared that the mediation mission from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will no longer be welcomed in the country unless its envoys adhere to local laws and regulations.
In a statement made on Tuesday March 4, Embalo criticized the ECOWAS mission for failing to present their roadmap to him for review and approval before engaging with various political factions in Guinea-Bissau, which he argued was a violation of proper protocol.
Embalo emphasized that Guinea-Bissau should not be treated like a “banana republic”, stressing that the country’s sovereignty and laws must be respected by international organizations. He revealed that, due to the actions of the ECOWAS mission, he had ordered its expulsion from the country, making it clear that such behavior would not be tolerated.
The ECOWAS mediation mission, which stayed in Guinea-Bissau from February 21 to 28, was aimed at fostering dialogue among political stakeholders and ensuring a peaceful electoral process ahead of the legislative and presidential elections scheduled for November 30. However, the mission’s actions have now led to a breakdown in its relationship with the Guinean government.