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Marrakech – Guinea-Bissau’s former president, Umaro Sissoco Embaló, has reportedly arrived in Morocco seeking refuge after being overthrown in a military coup last week.
The deposed leader’s journey marks the latest chapter in his exile following the November 26 takeover that has drawn international condemnation and allegations of staging.
According to Jeune Afrique, Embaló departed Brazzaville’s Maya-Maya airport last Wednesday morning aboard a private flight, accompanied by approximately twelve close associates.
The former president had spent only a brief period in the Congolese capital after arriving there from Dakar on November 29.
The military coup unfolded three days after Guinea-Bissau’s disputed presidential election on November 23, where both Embaló and opposition candidate Fernando Dias claimed victory.
Military officers announced on state television they had seized power and suspended the election after discovering what they described as a conspiracy involving drug lords and foreign nationals to manipulate results.
General Horta N’Tam, formerly the army’s chief of staff, was installed as transitional president for one year. The putschists justified their action by claiming they needed to restore order and combat drug trafficking networks that have plagued the West African nation.
International observers and opposition figures have questioned the coup’s authenticity. Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, who led an electoral observer mission, accused Embaló of orchestrating a “ceremonial coup” to maintain power.
He pointed to the unusual circumstances that allowed the supposedly deposed president to hold press conferences and leave the country freely.
Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko echoed these suspicions, describing the takeover as a “scheme.” His harsh criticism reportedly prompted Embaló’s swift departure from Dakar, where he had initially sought refuge for less than 48 hours.
The former president’s choice of Morocco as his potential safe haven appears strategic. During his presidency, Embaló maintained strong ties with Rabat and supported Morocco’s position on Western Sahara. Guinea-Bissau has operated a consulate in Dakhla since October 23, 2020, adding a geopolitical dimension to the bilateral ties.
Embaló’s exile journey was facilitated by Burkinabé businessman Mahamadou Bonkoungou, who chartered the aircraft for the Congo leg of his travels. The former president personally organized his accommodation at Brazzaville’s Radisson Blu hotel during his brief stay.
A chronically unstable West African state
The coup has triggered swift international condemnation. UN Secretary-General António Guterres denounced the takeover as a “serious violation of democratic principles.”
Both the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU) suspended Guinea-Bissau from their institutions.
Guinea-Bissau, home to 2.2 million people, has experienced chronic political instability since independence from Portugal in 1974. The country has witnessed four successful coups and multiple attempted takeovers, often linked to weak institutions and drug trafficking influence.
The nation serves as a crucial transit point for narcotics flowing from South America to Europe. This drug trade has repeatedly intersected with political crises, undermining governance and fueling corruption.
Embaló had faced a legitimacy crisis before the election, with opposition parties arguing his presidential term had expired earlier this year. The parliament had remained dissolved since December 2023 following what Embaló described as an attempted coup.
The former president has denied orchestrating the military takeover, telling media outlets that if he had planned the coup himself, he would still be in power. He has attributed the military action to senior officers from the Balanta ethnic group.
From Morocco, Embaló reportedly intends to travel to Portugal, though no official confirmation has emerged regarding his asylum request or Rabat’s response. The situation continues to develop as Guinea-Bissau begins another uncertain political transition under military rule.
