African Union Suspends Guinea-Bissau's Membership After Coup as Military Appoints Prime Minister

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission announced on Friday that Guinea-Bissau's membership in its bodies has been suspended, two days after President Umaro Sissoco Embaló was ousted and military personnel seized power in the country.

The military announced on Wednesday the ousting of Embaló and the suspension of the presidential and legislative elections that were held on November 23, the results of which were expected to be announced soon.

Mahamadou Aliou Youssouf stated that the Union decided "to suspend with immediate effect" Guinea-Bissau's membership in all its bodies.

Read also: Outgoing President of Guinea-Bissau to France 24: "I have been ousted"

Criticism of the Coup

The coup has faced widespread criticism, particularly from United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, who condemned it as a "violation of democratic principles," and from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which suspended the country's membership in "all decision-making bodies."

Guinea-Bissau, a coastal country in West Africa located between Senegal and Guinea (Conakry), has experienced four coups and a series of coup attempts since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974. The results of elections in the country have often been contentious.

Guinea-Bissau, which is extremely poor with a population of 2.2 million, suffers from chronic corruption and serves as a transit point for drug trafficking between South America and Europe.

Read also: Guinea-Bissau Coup: General Horta N'Tam Takes Power as Ousted President Arrives in Senegal

Guinea-Bissau has been added to the list of countries whose membership has been suspended by the African Union due to coups, as the continent has witnessed a series of coups affecting Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Sudan, and recently Madagascar.

Appointment of a Prime Minister

On Thursday, the coup leaders appointed the Chief of Staff of the Ground Forces, General Horta N'Tam, as head of the high military command to restore order and secure a political transition.

On Friday, General Horta N'Tam issued a decree appointing the former Minister of Finance, Elídio Vieira Tchê, as Prime Minister and Minister of Finance.

In a brief inauguration ceremony in the capital Bissau on Friday, the head of the military council praised Tchê as a "hardworking" individual, expressing hope to "continue working with him on the same ship."

He added, "The people expect a lot of commitment from us and from you."