African Leaders Urge Immediate Release of Guinea-Bissau Election Results

A coalition of 20 distinguished African figures has called for the immediate release of the election results from Guinea-Bissau’s presidential and legislative elections held on November 23, 2023. This urgent demand follows reports of military interference that jeopardizes the nation’s fragile democratic process. In a joint statement titled “Restoring Constitutional Order and the Rule of Law in Guinea-Bissau,” the group warns that the situation requires decisive action from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The coalition includes notable personalities such as former Cabo Verdean President Pedro Pires, ex-Foreign Minister José Brito, and prominent human rights lawyer Femi Falana. They emphasized the need for ECOWAS to “demand the truth, protect the winner, and request the freeing of political actors detained by the military junta.” Their intervention came after the National Electoral Commission (CNE) revealed that it was unable to continue compiling election results due to pressure from security forces.

Reports indicate that the military stormed the CNE’s headquarters, where they reportedly destroyed or confiscated electoral documents, as well as crucial data needed to announce the final results from the country’s eight regions. The group described this military action as “a desperate attempt to destroy the archives” and disrupt the electoral process.

The statement also condemned what the leaders termed a “staged coup” led by military officers loyal to outgoing President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, who was seeking re-election. They characterized Embaló’s reported arrest as “comic,” noting his eagerness to announce his ousting to the public before fleeing the country.

According to the statement, Embaló was initially evacuated to Dakar, Senegal, by President Diomaye Faye, but he later departed Senegal amid criticism from Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, who labeled the situation a “sham coup.” Recent updates suggest that Embaló has relocated to Morocco after a brief stay in Congo-Brazzaville and is allegedly preparing to return to power with the support of loyal military elements.

In light of these developments, the coalition urged ECOWAS leaders, who are set to meet on December 14, 2023, to take “a bold move” to restore constitutional rule in one of West Africa’s most politically unstable nations. They welcomed ECOWAS’s decision to send a fact-finding mission led by current chair, Julius Maada Bio, President of Sierra Leone.

The statement also called for urgent action from the African Union, the United Nations, and the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP), emphasizing that Guinea-Bissau’s instability poses a threat to a region already facing significant political and security challenges. The coalition reiterated that it is not too late to uphold the country’s democratic aspirations, stating that copies of the election results still exist and can be published with coordinated international pressure.

“As active members of civil society from across Africa, we cannot remain silent in the face of such blatant violations,” the signatories declared. They warned that acquiescing to military interference would send a dangerous message about power dynamics in West Africa, suggesting that it belongs only to the strongest.

The joint statement received support from a diverse array of influential figures across the continent, including Dr. Abass Bundu, former Executive Secretary of ECOWAS, Ambassador Luis Fonseca, former Secretary-General of the CPLP, and several leading academics and human rights activists.

The coalition continues to encourage both Africans and the international community to reject the “undemocratic manoeuvres” unfolding in Guinea-Bissau and to support the completion of the electoral process while fostering durable democratic institutions.