Guinea-Bissau’s deposed president travels to Congo’s Brazzaville: Reports

Umaro Sissoco Embalo, the former president of Guinea-Bissau, has visited the Republic of Congo, according to AFP and Associated Press news reports. He was ousted in a military coup.

Embalo’s chief of staff, Califa Soares Cassama, confirmed to AP that the former leader was visiting Brazzaville, the country’s capital.

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Embalo was in Brazzaville, according to unnamed Congolese government sources who spoke to AFP.

After a group of military officers announced they had “full control” of Guinea-Bissau ahead of the release of the preliminary presidential election results on Wednesday, Embalo sought refuge in neighboring Senegal.

The coup’s true motivations remain a mystery thanks to rumors and conspiracies, including that it was orchestrated with Embalo’s consent.

Regional leaders and the UN are urging Guinea-Bissau’s new military leaders to restore constitutional order and allow the electoral process to be completed. The coup has sparked a wave of international outcry.

Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko addressed lawmakers on Friday, calling the events a “sham” in remarks.

Sonko stated, “We want the electoral process to continue.” The electoral commission must be able to select the winner, according to the statement.

Many of Guinea-Bissau’s new military leaders are close to Embalo, including Ilidio Vieira Te, the new prime minister, and General Horta Inta-A, who was appointed transitional president earlier this week.

Te previously served in Embalo’s administration as finance minister.

A 28-member government, the majority of whom are allies of the deposed president, was appointed by Inta-a on Saturday.

Separately, the country’s main opposition party, PAIGC, claimed in a statement that Bissau’s capital had been “illegally invaded by heavily armed militia groups.”

The party called the Guinea-Bissau raid “an attack on stability, democracy, and the rule of law” on Saturday.

Civil rights organizations criticized PAIGC’s decision to refuse to run for president in the election last Sunday, which drew criticism from the opposition.

Before the provisional vote results’ release, which had been scheduled for Thursday, both Embalo and his main rival, Fernando Dias, had declared victory.