Senegal’s Prime Minister Deems Guinea-Bissau Coup a ‘Farce’ and Advocates for Restoration of Electoral Activities

Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has strongly condemned the recent military coup in Guinea-Bissau, calling it a “sham” and urging for the swift resumption of the country’s electoral process. This coup occurred shortly after a contentious presidential election, raising alarms about regional stability.

On Thursday, military officers ousted President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, who was seeking re-election, and appointed Major-General Horta Inta-a as the transitional president. The military justified their actions by claiming there was a plot by “narcotraffickers” aimed at undermining Guinean democracy and announced a one-year transition period.

The coup has prompted widespread international backlash. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) suspended Guinea-Bissau from its decision-making bodies, urging the military to return to their barracks. The African Union echoed these sentiments, demanding the immediate release of detained officials.

In his response, Sonko emphasized the need for the electoral commission to be allowed to declare the official results of the presidential election, asserting that the incidents in Guinea-Bissau could not be tolerated.

Additionally, the political unrest has had ramifications for neighboring countries; former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, who was monitoring the elections as part of a West African observer group, was reported to have safely exited Guinea-Bissau following the coup.

As the situation remains fluid, regional leaders and international organizations are closely monitoring developments, advocating for a prompt return to constitutional order to restore peace and stability in the region.