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AU halts Guinea-Bissau from all AU activities following army coup
(MENAFN) The African Union (AU) announced Saturday that it has *immediately* suspended Guinea-Bissau from all AU activities after the country's military deposed President Umaro Sissoco Embalo earlier this week.
In a statement, the AU Peace and Security Council said it “strongly condemns” the Nov. 26 military coup, calling it an unconstitutional change of government that violates the bloc’s core principles. The Council said the suspension will remain in place until constitutional order is restored.
The decision followed an emergency meeting held on Friday.
The Council demanded the unconditional release of all detained election officials and political figures. It also urged regional and international partners — including ECOWAS, the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), and the United Nations — to help ensure a swift return to democratic governance in the West African nation.
The coup unfolded Wednesday, when a group of officers calling themselves the *High Military Command for the Restoration of National Security and Public Order* declared that they had “assumed full powers of the state,” removing Embalo from office. On Thursday, the group installed Gen. Horta Inta-A as transitional president for a one-year period.
The takeover came amid tensions surrounding the disputed Nov. 23 presidential election, as both incumbent Embalo and independent candidate Fernando Dias claimed victory while the nation awaited official results expected this week.
The AU Peace and Security Council called on the military to allow the electoral process to resume and to respect the democratic will of the population.
The coup drew strong international condemnation. UN Secretary-General António Guterres denounced the power grab as a violation of democratic norms, while ECOWAS suspended Guinea-Bissau from all of its decision-making bodies.
The AU Council backed the ECOWAS stance and warned that targeted sanctions could follow “if the junta continues to interfere in political processes.”
In a statement, the AU Peace and Security Council said it “strongly condemns” the Nov. 26 military coup, calling it an unconstitutional change of government that violates the bloc’s core principles. The Council said the suspension will remain in place until constitutional order is restored.
The decision followed an emergency meeting held on Friday.
The Council demanded the unconditional release of all detained election officials and political figures. It also urged regional and international partners — including ECOWAS, the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), and the United Nations — to help ensure a swift return to democratic governance in the West African nation.
The coup unfolded Wednesday, when a group of officers calling themselves the *High Military Command for the Restoration of National Security and Public Order* declared that they had “assumed full powers of the state,” removing Embalo from office. On Thursday, the group installed Gen. Horta Inta-A as transitional president for a one-year period.
The takeover came amid tensions surrounding the disputed Nov. 23 presidential election, as both incumbent Embalo and independent candidate Fernando Dias claimed victory while the nation awaited official results expected this week.
The AU Peace and Security Council called on the military to allow the electoral process to resume and to respect the democratic will of the population.
The coup drew strong international condemnation. UN Secretary-General António Guterres denounced the power grab as a violation of democratic norms, while ECOWAS suspended Guinea-Bissau from all of its decision-making bodies.
The AU Council backed the ECOWAS stance and warned that targeted sanctions could follow “if the junta continues to interfere in political processes.”
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