Senegal, under the leadership of President Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye, plays a pivotal role in the regional response to the political crisis affecting Guinea-Bissau. On Thursday 27 November, an extraordinary summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was held virtually to examine the situation following the seizure of power by elements of the Bissau-Guinean army the day before. This military intervention led to the temporary arrest of President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and the interruption of the electoral process, just before the announcement of the provisional results of the presidential and legislative elections of 23 November. During this session, the ECOWAS Heads of State unanimously condemned the attempted seizure of power by force, which was described as a coup d’état. They demanded the immediate re-establishment of constitutional order, the immediate release of President Embaló and all detained persons, and the resumption of the electoral process in a secure framework and in accordance with regional standards. Among the measures adopted, it was decided to set up a restricted mediation committee, of which Senegal is a member.
Embaló à Dakar: The Sénégal at the heart of the resolution of the Bissau-Guinean crisis
