In response to the escalating political crisis in Guinea-Bissau, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) are deploying a high-level mediation mission to the country from February 23 to 28, 2025. The mission will focus on addressing the growing tensions between President Umaro Sissoco Embaló’s administration and opposition parties, who are demanding his immediate departure from office.
The mission, led by former Nigerian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Bagudu Hirse, is aimed at facilitating dialogue and building consensus on a pathway forward, particularly concerning the country’s electoral calendar. With political unrest intensifying, the mission seeks to help resolve disputes over the legitimacy of President Embaló’s tenure and ensure that Guinea-Bissau moves towards a peaceful resolution.
While President Embaló has maintained that his mandate remains valid until elections are held later in the year, either in October or November, opposition groups have taken a starkly different view. Prominent opposition leaders, including former Prime Minister Domingos Simões Pereira, argue that Embaló’s mandate officially ended on February 7, 2025, and are calling for the immediate appointment of an interim president. These opposition leaders have set a deadline for the transition, demanding the selection of an interim president by February 27, 2025.
The political discord has led to a polarized national environment, with tensions escalating in the wake of the opposition’s demands. The country’s Supreme Court has ruled that President Embaló’s term officially ends on September 4, 2025. However, many political parties reject this timeline and have voiced concerns over the potential for prolonged instability if Embaló remains in office until then.
The ECOWAS-led mission, which includes political advisers and diplomats from Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, and Senegal, aims to engage with a broad range of stakeholders, including government representatives, opposition groups, civil society, and security forces. Key areas of focus will include security concerns, governance issues, and preparations for the upcoming elections.
Additionally, a critical deadline looms: March 31, 2025, marks the date by which Guinea-Bissau must announce an official election date. The international community, including ECOWAS and UNOWAS, has emphasized the need for a transparent and timely electoral process to avoid further political gridlock and potential violence.
With the country at a crossroads, the high-level mission seeks to mediate a peaceful resolution to the crisis, facilitate political dialogue, and ensure that the upcoming electoral process is fair, credible, and accepted by all political actors in Guinea-Bissau. The mission’s success will play a key role in maintaining regional stability and ensuring that democratic processes in Guinea-Bissau are upheld.
