A delegation from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) visited Guinea-Bissau to hold mediation talks with the leaders of last week’s coup. This visit comes amid increasing regional pressure on the military, who seized power following a disputed election.
The delegation, led by ECOWAS chairman and Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio, arrived in Bissau on Monday. Their mission is to urge the military authorities to ensure a “full restoration of constitutional order.”
The army has tightened its grip on the country, banning all demonstrations and strikes. Sierra Leone’s Foreign Minister Timothy Musa Kabba stated, “We had very fruitful discussions today, and both sides expressed their different concerns.”
Guinea-Bissau’s new Foreign Minister, Joao Bernardo Vieira, stated that it is “very clear” that ECOWAS will not leave the country “during this difficult period.” He added that “the transitional authorities and the military will continue their talks.”
The coup occurred just three days before the expected announcement of results from a closely contested presidential election. Both the incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embalo and opposition candidate Fernando Dias da Costa claimed victory before the preliminary results were even released.
During the takeover, Embalo told French media via telephone that he had been overthrown and arrested. He later fled to Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of Congo.
Guinea-Bissau’s military appointed former Chief of Staff General Horta Inta to lead a one-year transitional government. Inta announced the formation of a new 28-member government, comprised mostly of allies of the ousted president, on Saturday.
Nigeria has confirmed that its President Bola Tinubu has agreed to provide protection to opposition leader Dias da Costa due to an “imminent threat to his life.”
