The African Union (AU) has suspended Guinea-Bissau from all its activities following this week’s military coup, saying the takeover violates the bloc’s core principles on constitutional governance.
In a statement issued Saturday, the AU Peace and Security Council said it had “immediately” frozen Guinea-Bissau’s participation in the organization until constitutional order is restored, two days after army officers announced they had deposed President Umaro Sissoco Embalo.
The Council “strongly condemned” the November 26 coup, calling it an unconstitutional change of government and a breach of AU norms. The decision followed an emergency session held on Friday.
Council members demanded the unconditional release of detained election officials and political figures, and urged the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), the UN and other partners to push for a rapid return to civilian-led, constitutional rule in the small West African nation.
A group of officers styling themselves as the “High Military Command for the Restoration of National Security and Public Order” announced on Wednesday that they had “assumed full powers of the state” and removed Embalo from office.
On Thursday, the High Military Command named Gen. Horta Inta-A as transitional president for a one-year period.
The takeover came amid a disputed presidential race between independent candidate Fernando Dias and incumbent Embalo, with both camps claiming victory in the November 23 poll as the country awaited official results expected this week.
The AU Peace and Security Council called on the military to allow the electoral process to be completed and to respect the will of voters.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the coup as a violation of democratic norms, while ECOWAS suspended Guinea-Bissau from all its decision-making bodies.
Endorsing ECOWAS’ position, the AU Council warned that targeted sanctions could follow “if the junta continues interfering in political processes.” It instructed the AU Commission to deepen coordination with ECOWAS, bolster stabilization efforts, ensure the safety of electoral observers, and set up a monitoring mechanism.
Embalo, who was seeking a second term, was initially arrested by the putschists on Wednesday. He later fled to neighboring Senegal after being released.
An ECOWAS high-level mission, including the presidents of Senegal, Cape Verde and Sierra Leone, is expected to arrive in the capital, Bissau, this weekend for talks with the new military authorities and other stakeholders.