In a move aimed at curbing tension with Guinea-Bissau and institute dialogue, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, who heads the ECOWAS Commission was in the country on 25–26 May 2025.
This was on the invitation of President Umaro Sissoco Embaló who remains in office despite the end of his official term. He has since indicated his wish to seek reelection despite hinting earlier that he would not bid for a second term.
His decision to postpone election had plunged the country into an institutional crisis.
The visit by the Ecowas commission chair follows recent tensions between Bissau and the regional bloc, notably the expulsion of an Ecowas delegation in March following disagreements over the postponed elections.
Touray’s presence in Bissau marks a fresh diplomatic attempt to mend strained ties and renew cooperation between the Economic Community of West African States and its member state.
Guinea Bissau prepares to hold general elections on 23 November 2025.
According to an official statement on ECOWAS’s Facebook page, the key focus of the talks was the political situation in Guinea-Bissau, with both parties emphasising the need to strengthen institutions, safeguard national stability, and ensure a transparent and inclusive electoral process.
Dr. Touray also used the occasion to highlight his ongoing consultations with the foreign ministers of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, reaffirming ECOWAS’s commitment to dialogue and peace-building across West Africa.
Touray’s visit is seen as a positive step toward reconciliation, amid broader regional efforts to manage diverging political dynamics and maintain unity within the sub-region.
ARD/te/sf/lb/as/APA