Dakar, Senegal – Ousted Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo arrived in Senegal on Thursday evening following successful mediation efforts led by Dakar with the military junta that seized power on Wednesday, DZWatch has learned.
The Senegalese Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the government dispatched a special aircraft to Bissau to facilitate Embalo’s evacuation. The ministry’s statement highlighted that the mediation also resulted in the release of several of Embalo’s aides, as well as all detained political figures. Furthermore, border crossings have been reopened to ease the evacuation process and the return of citizens, including members of election observer missions who monitored the recent presidential and legislative elections held last Sunday.
The Ministry emphasized that Senegal, under the direct supervision of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, maintained constant communication with all parties in Guinea-Bissau since the onset of the crisis. Dakar has expressed its readiness to collaborate with ECOWAS, the African Union, and other partners to contribute to resolving the situation and restoring constitutional legitimacy in the country.
Embalo’s arrival in Senegal occurred hours after General Horta N’tam, the army chief, was sworn in as interim president for a one-year term. This followed the coup that took place while the nation awaited the official announcement of the results from the recent elections.
This event marks yet another precedent in the country’s turbulent political history. The coup represents the fifth such occurrence since Guinea-Bissau gained independence from Portugal in 1974. Approximately 40% of the population lives below the poverty line in a nation plagued by a history of political instability and attempted power grabs.
DZWatch continues to monitor the situation closely.
