Members of the Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have demanded decisive action to address the growing threat to democracy that the President of Guinea-Bissau reportedly posed and avert a constitutional crisis that could truncate the country’s democracy.
The parliamentarians made this demand during the ongoing First Ordinary Session of the 6th regional legislature in Abuja on Monday, following the efforts of President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, who is allegedly planning to extend his tenure in office after his constitutionally required mandate expires in February 2025.
The session on Monday was presided over by Jibrin Barau, the First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament. After the Guinea-Bissau Country Report presentation, lawmakers expressed fear that President Embalo, who reportedly expelled the ECOWAS Parliament peace delegation to the country, must stop his country from plunging into chaos.
Leading the debate, Nigerian lawmaker Abiante Awaji—Inombek said the situation in Guinea-Bissau is disturbing, and ECOWAS must intervene to forestall a breakdown of law and order in the country. He also called for the redefinition of democracy to preserve its norms in the region.
He said, “Enough has been said about Guinea-Bissau. It is time to have a proper discourse on Democracy. It is time to sit down and have a common denominator about member states.”
He condemned the authorities in Bissau for driving away the ECOWAS delegation, stressing that it is an affront to the regional body and called for intervention.
In this submission, Senegalese parliamentarian Guy Marius Sagna emphasised the need to call the President of Guinea-Bissau to order and prevailed on him to organise elections. “We cannot allow the country to go into chaos; we must prevail on the Embalo to respect the wishes of the people of Guinea-Bissau,” he said.
Hon Sheriff Sarr from the Gambia was vehement in his condemnation of the treatment of the ECOWAS delegation to Guinea Bissau, saying we must stand with the people of Guinea Bissau to avert a coup like the one that happened in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
Hon Laadi Ayii Ayamba from Ghana decried the situation in Guinea-Bissau and called for urgent action in her submission.
The lawmakers resolved the need for urgent intervention, especially as they demand President Embalo organise elections and stop being a dictator.
The political crisis in Guinea-Bissau is reportedly degenerating, fueling authoritarianism and instability. President Umaro Embaló’s actions, including the dissolution of parliament and postponement of elections, have elicited public discontent and concerns about his disregard for democratic processes.
Embaló dissolved the National Assembly on multiple occasions, citing alleged coup attempts, further undermining the separation of powers and the legitimacy of the legislative branch.
The scheduled November 2024 elections were postponed, which increased tension in the tiny country of 1.8 million population.
ECOWAS has tried to mediate the crisis to no avail, as the authorities in Guinea-Bissau have refused the ECOWAS delegation entry into the country.
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