THE AFRICAN UNION (AU) Has Suspended Guinea-Bissau From All Its Activities, A Move Taken Two Days After The Military Ousted President Umaro Sissoco Embaló And Halted The Process Of Announcing The Long-Awaited Election Results. The Au Commission Chairman, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Said The Decision Was Effective Immediately Due To What He Called A Serious Violation Of Democratic Principles.
The Coup, Announced On Wednesday, Ousted Embaló And Installed General Horta N’tam—The Former Head Of The Army—As Interim President For A Year. Embaló Was Briefly Detained By The Military Before Fleeing To Senegal On Thursday, With Opposition Candidate Fernando Dias Claiming Victory And Saying He Was Safe, Although He Was Hiding Inside The Country.
The Military’s Move Has Drawn Sharp Criticism From The International Community. Un Secretary-General Antonio Guterres Called The Coup “An Unacceptable Violation Of Democratic Principles”, While Ecowas Joined The Au In Suspending Guinea-Bissau From All Decision-Making Bodies Of The Bloc.
With The Suspension, Guinea-Bissau Joins Other African Countries That Have Suffered Similar Sanctions Following The Coup, Including Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Sudan And Madagascar. However, The Lifting Of Sanctions Against Gabon Earlier This Year Shows That A Return To Constitutional Rule Remains A Necessary Condition For Full Membership.