Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko on Friday addressed his country’s parliament regarding the coup in Guinea-Bissau, stressing the need to continue the electoral process and release detained officials, as the West African regional grouping ECOWAS announced a mediation mission in the country.
Speaking during a current affairs session, Sonko highlighted the importance of respecting the constitutional order and the electoral process, noting that ousted President Umaro Sissoco Embaló had been flown to Dakar with the help of the Senegalese authorities.
“Diplomatic matters fall under the prerogatives of the Head of State,” Sonko said, while commenting on the situation: “Everyone knows it’s a scheme.” He emphasized the release of arrested officials, including Domingos Simões Pereira, “who does not even have access to his medication.”
Regarding ECOWAS and other actors, he added, “Everyone knows what I think,” without providing further details.
Exfiltration of Embaló to Dakar
The ousted Guinea-Bissau president was flown to Senegal on Wednesday, arriving “safe and sound” aboard a specially chartered aircraft. Senegalese authorities maintained constant contact with Guinea-Bissau’s political and military actors to facilitate the release of Embaló, his associates, and detained officials, while ensuring the safety of international missions in the country.
ECOWAS Position
During an extraordinary virtual summit on Thursday, ECOWAS heads of state strongly condemned the coup, demanded the immediate restoration of constitutional order, and called for the continuation of the electoral process. They also announced the establishment of a mediation mission in Guinea-Bissau, including Senegal, to monitor regional decisions and engage in dialogue with the coup leaders.
The coup, occurring hours before the provisional results of the 23 November presidential election were to be announced, led to the arrest of President Embaló and several political and military officials, including former Prime Minister Domingos Simões Pereira.
General Horta N’Tam was sworn in on Thursday as transitional president for a maximum of one year, pledging to combat narcotics trafficking, which he accused of having “captured Guinea-Bissau’s democracy.”
AC/lb/as/APA