Guinea-Bissau: ECOWAS’ silence amid Embaló’s power struggles

Since taking office in 2020, Umaro Sissoco Embaló has ruled Guinea-Bissau with an iron fist, steering the country into prolonged political turmoil. His tenure has been marked by the repeated dissolution of Parliament in 2022 and 2023, along with widespread repression of opposition figures and violent crackdowns on protesters.

More recently, his refusal to hold elections as mandated by the Constitution has further deepened the crisis.

Despite these authoritarian actions, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has remained largely passive, failing to take decisive action.

In stark contrast to its firm stance against military takeovers in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, the regional body has turned a blind eye to Embaló’s maneuvers, allowing him to consolidate power unchallenged.

Now, as ECOWAS belatedly attempts to address the crisis, it faces stiff resistance from the Bissau-Guinean leader, who rejects any external interference. This raises critical questions: Why has ECOWAS been lenient toward Embaló while imposing severe sanctions on other military-led governments?

This apparent double standard has fueled a sense of injustice and weakened the credibility of ECOWAS as a neutral arbitrator.

While the organization claims to uphold democracy and stability in West Africa, its inconsistent handling of political crises casts doubt on its impartiality and effectiveness in safeguarding regional governance.

Gilbert FOTSO