Following Wednesday’s military takeover, Ambassador Baba Kamara, the head of the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission to Guinea-Bissau, pledged on Thursday to stay in the nation until all 135 short- and medium-term observers assigned for the November 23 presidential and legislative elections have safely left.
On November 27, Kamara, a former Ghanaian High Commissioner to Nigeria and ECOWAS, stated the stance while speaking to the election observers gathered in Bissau.
The senior diplomat claimed that he had previously been promised a place on the emergency jet used to evacuate Goodluck Jonathan, the former president of Nigeria, and his delegation. He refused to leave observers who were still trapped in the unstable West African state, though.
“I cannot leave any observer behind in Guinea-Bissau, but I had the opportunity to leave with former President Jonathan of Nigeria and his delegation in the limited seats on his special flight,” Kamara stated, characterizing his decision as non-negotiable.
Remember how the country descended into chaos on November 26 after military overthrew President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, arrested important officials, imposed a curfew at night, halted elections, and closed the airport and national borders?
Before the coup abruptly halted the procedures, the observers, who were stationed throughout many Guinea-Bissau districts, had returned to the capital for the National Electoral Commission’s (CNE) scheduled announcement of interim election results.
For hours following the announcement of takeover, there were reports of gunfire exchanges and large highway blockades throughout Bissau.
The ECOWAS Technical Support Team, headed by Ambassador Abdel-Fatua Musah, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security at the ECOWAS Commission, completed plans for the evacuation of observers on a charter jet as pressure rose for regional intervention.
The mission takes place in the midst of a continuous diplomatic response against West African government moves that are illegitimate.
Only pre-approved planes were granted movement clearance when military authorities reopened the Bissau airport to a few international airlines on Friday, including Royal Air Maroc, ASKY Airlines, TAP, EuroAtlantic Airways, and Air Côte d’Ivoire.
The junta also swore in General Horta Inta-A, a former head of the Presidential Guard and alleged Embaló friend, as Transitional President on Friday. He will serve as the nation’s leader for a year.
In a combined closing statement, Musah and Musah praised onlookers for their “dedication and sacrifices” and reassured them that measures had been taken to ensure their personal safety and secure transportation.
Additionally, Commissioner Musah and Ambassador Kamara conveyed the regional council’s appreciation to the monitors for their steadfastness in the face of the crisis.
In order “to protect the life and property of every ECOWAS observer until mission completion,” the council emphasized that it has opened the required diplomatic, intelligence, and military channels.
Additionally, they guaranteed that before boarding aircraft returning to their home nations, observers would get safe airport transportation.
