Post a comment 
President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, in his capacity as the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority, engaged in a high-level telephone discussion today with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres regarding the escalating political crisis in Guinea-Bissau.
The dialogue focused on the recent military coup in Bissau and the potential ramifications for regional peace and equilibrium in West Africa.
President Bio confirmed the conversation, stating: “As Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority, I engaged in a constructive and in-depth telephone discussion with António Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, concerning the political situation in Guinea-Bissau.”
The two leaders shared insights on the rising tensions in Guinea-Bissau and jointly underscored the critical need to protect democratic frameworks, uphold constitutional governance, and ensure that all political parties honor their pledges to maintain national harmony.
ECOWAS, which has already suspended Guinea-Bissau from its decision-making bodies, is actively involved in the crisis resolution efforts. Earlier, ousted Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embaló arrived in Senegal on Thursday aboard a special flight, following a successful diplomatic intervention by the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority, Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio.
The transfer comes a day after the military seized power in Guinea-Bissau, derailing the announcement of presidential election results and detaining Embaló.
The political upheaval unfolded just a day before authorities were scheduled to announce the provisional results of the presidential ballot and parliamentary polls.
On Thursday, the military, which had taken control, appointed General Horta N’Tam, the chief of staff of the army, as the country’s new leader for a period of one year. General N’Tam, who is considered to have been close to Embaló in recent years, stated the military had acted “to block operations that aimed to threaten our democracy” after uncovering a plan involving “drug lords” to alter the constitutional order.
The coup marks another turbulent chapter for Guinea-Bissau, which has experienced four successful coups since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974. The country’s election results are frequently contested, contributing to persistent instability.
