The African Union has suspended Guinea-Bissau following a military coup that removed President Umaro Embalo from power.
The AU’s chairman, Mahamoud Youssouf, told AFP on Friday that Guinea-Bissau would be “suspended from its bodies with immediate effect.”
The decision came hours after the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) also suspended the country from its decision-making bodies. ECOWAS’ Mediation and Security Council (MSC) made the announcement after an emergency meeting on Thursday, saying the suspension would last “until the restoration of full and effective constitutional order in the country.”
Military officers seized power on Wednesday, about three days after disputed presidential and legislative elections. They suspended the electoral process, closed borders, stopped the announcement of results, and appointed the army chief of staff, General Horta N’Tam, as transitional leader for one year.
President Embalo initially was detained by the military but fled to Senegal on Thursday. Opposition candidate Fernando Dias, who claims victory in the elections, said he is “safe” and hiding in the country.
The coup has drawn international condemnation. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called it an “unacceptable violation of democratic principles.”
Guinea-Bissau, located between Senegal and Guinea, has a history of political instability, including four previous coups since independence from Portugal in 1974. The country is also a hub for drug trafficking between Latin America and Europe.
The AU has suspended other countries after coups, including Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Sudan, and Madagascar. Sanctions against Gabon were lifted in April following the overthrow of President Ali Bongo.
