A diplomatic firestorm has erupted between Guinea-Bissau and Portugal. The government of Guinea-Bissau expelled two major Portuguese news agencies. This shocking decree affects the public broadcaster RTP and news agency Lusa.
Their programming has been swiftly suspended in the West African nation. Representatives were given until Tuesday to depart from the country. No official explanation was immediately provided for the surprising action.
Portugal’s government condemned the expulsions as highly reprehensible and unjustifiable. Lisbon swiftly summoned the ambassador to explain the sudden, baffling decision.
The diplomatic spat arrives amidst significant political turbulence in Guinea-Bissau. President Umaro Sissoco Embalo is facing accusations of clinging to power.
He recently postponed presidential elections, eliciting months of unrest. The nation has a long, difficult history of political coups since independence.