Reports: Former president of Guinea-Bissau heads to Brazzaville, Congo

Umaro Sissoco Embalo, the former president of Guinea-Bissau, has arrived in the Republic of Congo, according to reports from AFP and the Associated Press, just days after he was ousted in a military takeover. Califa Soares Cassama, Embalos chief of staff, confirmed to AP that the ex-president is currently in Brazzaville. Additional unnamed Congolese officials also verified to AFP that Embalo is in the Congolese capital.

Embalo initially fled to neighboring Senegal after military officers announced on Wednesday that they had assumed full control of Guinea-Bissau, preceding the release of provisional presidential election results. The reasons behind the coup remain uncertain, with speculation including theories that it may have occurred with Embalos consent.

The coup has drawn widespread international criticism, with regional authorities and the United Nations urging Guinea-Bissaus new military rulers to reinstate constitutional governance and allow the electoral process to continue. Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko condemned the takeover as a sham in remarks to parliament on Friday. We want the electoral process to continue, Sonko said. The electoral commission must be allowed to declare the winner.

Several of Guinea-Bissaus new military leaders maintain close ties to Embalo. General Horta Inta-A, appointed transitional president earlier this week, and Ilidio Vieira Te, named prime minister, are both long-time associates. Vieira Te previously held the position of finance minister under Embalo. On Saturday, Inta-A formed a 28-member government, predominantly composed of Embalo allies.

Meanwhile, Guinea-Bissaus main opposition party, PAIGC, reported that its headquarters in Bissau had been illegally invaded by heavily armed militia groups. The party condemned the raid on Saturday as an attack on stability, democracy, and the rule of law.

PAIGC had been barred from presenting a candidate in last Sundays presidential election, a decision criticized by civil rights organizations as a suppression of opposition participation. Both Embalo and his primary rival, Fernando Dias, had claimed victory before the release of provisional vote results, which had been scheduled for Thursday. No election results have been released since the coup.

Author: Sophia Brooks