Guinea-Bissau’s deposed President has arrived in Senegal. Umaro Sissoco Embaló was airlifted to safety following a tense military takeover.
Senegalese authorities confirmed the news. The ousted leader landed “safe and sound” on a chartered military flight late Thursday night.
His release concludes high-stakes negotiations. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) brokered the deal to secure his safety.
A Diplomatic Extraction
Regional leaders coordinated the evacuation. The current ECOWAS chairmanship engaged directly with the Bissau-Guinean military high command.
They demanded guarantees for Embaló’s protection. Officials have not disclosed specific details about his physical condition. However, diplomats emphasized that his safe exit was the primary objective.
Junta Installs New Leader
Meanwhile, the military has solidified control in Bissau. General Horta N’Tam has been sworn in as the country’s new transitional leader. He formerly served as the army’s chief of staff.
Gen. N’Tam announced that the military will rule for one year. He justified the intervention in his inaugural address.
“We acted to block operations that aimed to threaten our democracy,” he stated.
The junta claims it stopped a destabilization plot. Consequently, the military has suspended the electoral process. They also blocked the release of poll results and banned public protests.
Accusations of a “Simulated Coup”
The political narrative remains polarized. Opposition figures have levied serious accusations against the deposed President. They claim the event was a “simulated coup” masterminded by Embaló himself.
Fernando Dias was the main opposition challenger in Sunday’s polls. He described the situation as an “organized coup.”
Dias believes he won roughly 52 percent of the vote. He alleges the crisis was fabricated to halt the democratic transfer of power. Embaló has not responded to these allegations.
Furthermore, reports indicate a widening crackdown. Sources suggest that Dias and former Prime Minister Domingos Pereira may be in detention.
International Isolation
The international community reacted swiftly. ECOWAS officially suspended Guinea-Bissau from all decision-making organs.
The bloc condemned the military’s actions. They called it a “grave violation” of constitutional order.
Additionally, the African Union and the United Nations issued strong condemnations. They are calling for the unconditional restoration of civilian rule.
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