ECOWAS Mission Leaves Guinea-Bissau After President’s Expulsion Threat

A delegation from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has withdrawn from Guinea-Bissau after President Umaro Sissoco Embalo threatened to expel the mission. The team was sent to help mediate a dispute over the timing of the nation’s upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections.

President Embalo, who took office in 2020, has insisted that elections be held on November 30, 2025 a decision that has drawn criticism from opposition groups. Critics contend that his term should have ended earlier, with the Supreme Court ruling that it expires on September 4, 2025. This disagreement over the electoral timeline has heightened political tensions in the West African nation.

ECOWAS had deployed the mission from February 21 to 28 with the aim of fostering dialogue between the government and political factions to secure a consensus on the election schedule. However, the mission was forced to depart on March 1 after the president’s threat of expulsion, underscoring the volatility of the current political climate in Guinea-Bissau.

The withdrawal of the ECOWAS delegation marks a setback for efforts to stabilize the nation, which has a history of political turbulence and coup attempts. Regional observers say the incident raises serious concerns about the prospects for a peaceful resolution to the election dispute and the overall stability of Guinea-Bissau.

Further developments are expected as ECOWAS and other international stakeholders continue to monitor the situation closely.

Photo Credit: https://mfwa.org/