Brussels – The European Union (EU) has today urged the immediate release of all individuals detained in Guinea-Bissau and called for a prompt restoration of constitutional order following the military coup that occurred on Wednesday.
“We emphasize the necessity of freeing all detainees,” stated Anouar El Anouni, spokesperson for the European Commission for Foreign Affairs.
“We acknowledge the release yesterday [Thursday] of President Umaro Sissoco Embaló,” the spokesperson continued.
Embaló, who was removed from power by a military coup on Wednesday, was released and taken to Senegal on Thursday.
El Anouni reiterated the call for “a rapid return to constitutional order and the resumption of the electoral process.”
The EU advocates for the completion of the vote counting process and encourages acceptance of the election results by all parties involved.
The military junta that has assumed control in Guinea-Bissau appointed General Horta Inta-A as transitional President for one year.
The military had declared the suspension of the electoral process just before the results of the general elections held on November 23 were to be announced.
The elections, which proceeded without reported incidents, took place without the participation of the main opposition party, the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), and its candidate, Domingos Simões Pereira, who were excluded from the electoral process and detained in the meantime, with Pereira expressing support for opposing candidate Fernando Dias da Costa.
The opposition, claiming victory in the presidential elections, accuses the military intervention of being a tactic orchestrated by the outgoing President to obstruct the announcement of electoral results. (28/11/25)
Leave a Reply