The ECOWAS Election Observation Mission (EOM), led by Ambassador Baba Kamara, met with candidates for the November 23rd presidential election in Guinea-Bissau.
The meetings included incumbent President Umaro Sissoko Embalo and representatives for opposition candidate Fernando Dias. Both parties pledged their commitment to a peaceful electoral process.
President Embalo, seeking a second term, assured Ambassador Kamara and his team at the State House on Friday, November 21st, 2025, that he would respect the outcome of the polls. Geraldo Martins, representing candidate Dias (supported by a faction of the Party for Social Renewal, PRS), made a similar commitment during a separate consultation with the ECOWAS EOM.
The Head of Mission appealed for peaceful and orderly elections.
Ambassador Kamara emphasized that the deployment of observers aligns with ECOWAS’ strong commitment to supporting good governance, national progress, and development in Guinea-Bissau.
Key Stakeholders and Mission Appeals
The presidential race involves 12 candidates, including former President José Mário Vaz (supported by Coalition COLIDE-GB).
Ambassador Kamara urged all presidential and legislative candidates and their supporters to demonstrate patriotism, political tolerance, and non-violence.
He stressed the need to work towards consolidating democracy both nationally and regionally.
Ambassador Kamara was accompanied by several key officials for the political consultations, including:
- Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security.
- Ambassador Ngozi Ukaeje, ECOWAS Resident Representative in Guinea-Bissau.
- Ambassador Baba Jamal Ahmed, representing the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) to ECOWAS.
Ambassador Kamara also instructed the ECOWAS election observers to discharge their mandate with integrity and impartiality.
During the pre-deployment briefing, the Head of Mission requested a minute’s silence in honour of Amilcar Cabral, a key figure in the independence struggle of Guinea-Bissau and Cabo Verde. Commissioner Musah, who heads the Commission’s technical support team, reminded observers of the unique historical context of Guinea-Bissau and Cabo Verde’s independence fight against Portuguese colonialists. He emphasized adherence to the ECOWAS principles of neutrality and professionalism.
ECOWAS has deployed 15 Medium-Term and 120 Short-Term Observers across the nation’s eight regions and 37 Sectors, including the capital, Bissau.
The National Electoral Commission (CNE) has registered 966,152 voters out of an estimated population of 2.2 million, who will cast ballots in 3,728 polling stations nationwide and in the Diaspora. Early voting for security agents and election duty personnel took place on November 20th. Campaigns concluded at midnight on November 21st, amidst the country’s ongoing political fragility stemming from constitutional disputes under its semi-presidential system.
ECOWAS is expected to release its Preliminary Declaration on the election conduct after two days, followed by a more comprehensive Final Report with recommendations for future electoral improvements.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
