The African Union (AU) expressed deep concern on Tuesday over Guinea-Bissau’s escalating political crisis, following President Umaro Sissoco Embalo’s controversial decision to dissolve parliament and his subsequent assumption of key security portfolios.
In a strongly worded statement, AU chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat denounced the recent violence in the capital, Bissau, which erupted between factions of the military and left two people dead.
He specifically condemned the involvement of the National Guard, urging “all national stakeholders to prioritise dialogue in the furtherance of peace and to respect the Constitution to ensure the preservation of stability and unity of the country.”
Embalo’s move to dissolve parliament, ostensibly triggered by the unrest, has been met with sharp criticism. His longtime rival, parliamentary speaker Domingos Simoes Pereira, labeled it a “constitutional coup d’etat,” raising fears of further political turmoil in the fragile West African nation.
Embalo defended his actions, claiming an “attempted coup” necessitated his intervention. He alleged “complicity” between the National Guard and “certain political interests” within the state, rendering the normal functioning of institutions impossible.
This assertion, however, has been met with skepticism by many, including opposition leaders who view it as a pretext for consolidating power.
Guinea-Bissau, a nation of roughly two million people, has a troubled history marked by coups and attempted coups since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974.
Embalo himself survived a coup attempt in February 2022, just months after being elected to a five-year term.
The current crisis risks plunging the country back into instability, jeopardizing its fragile democratic transition.
The AU’s call for dialogue and adherence to the constitution offers a glimmer of hope, but only time will tell if political actors will heed its plea and prevent further bloodshed.
The international community is now watching Guinea-Bissau with trepidation, urging restraint and a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
The fate of the embattled nation hangs in the balance, as it grapples with the ghosts of its past and the uncertain path towards a more stable future.
