Nigeria has offered diplomatic protection to Guinea-Bissau’s opposition presidential candidate, Fernando Dias, at its embassy in the capital city of Bissau following a recent military takeover in the country. The decision was confirmed by Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which said the move was approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in response to growing concerns over Dias’s personal safety.
The military coup in Guinea-Bissau, which occurred after a disputed presidential election held on November 23, has plunged the small West African nation into political uncertainty. Armed officers seized control of key government institutions last week, disrupting the official announcement of election results and dissolving civilian authority. In the aftermath, reports emerged that opposition leaders were being targeted, prompting Dias to seek urgent protection.
According to Nigeria’s foreign ministry, Dias had communicated that his life was under immediate threat. Following an assessment of the situation, the Nigerian government approved his request for protection within the secure premises of its embassy in Bissau. Nigeria also called on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Stabilisation Force to consider deploying troops to help ensure his safety and restore calm in the country.
Meanwhile, leaders of ECOWAS held tense talks with Guinea-Bissau’s military leadership in an attempt to reverse the coup and uphold democratic principles. The regional body, led by Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio, urged the soldiers to step down and allow the electoral process to continue. ECOWAS Foreign Minister Timothy Musa Kabba later addressed the media, stressing that the organisation demanded the immediate restoration of constitutional order.
He added that a final decision on the union’s response would be made at the upcoming ECOWAS heads of state and government conference scheduled for December 14. The regional bloc has not ruled out the possibility of imposing sanctions if the military continues to resist a return to civilian rule.
The interim military leader, Major-General Horta Inta-a, defended the coup by claiming it was necessary to prevent alleged interference by criminal networks linked to drug trafficking. He announced that the military would oversee a one-year transitional period, beginning immediately, to “restore stability and protect democracy.” These statements, however, have been widely criticised both locally and internationally.
Dias, who is 47 years old and relatively new to national politics, has maintained that he was on track to win the presidential election before the military intervened. His supporters believe the coup was orchestrated to block the official confirmation of results that would have removed the incumbent leadership from power. The opposition coalition has strongly condemned the military’s actions, describing them as an attack on democratic choice.
In the days following the takeover, the military authorities imposed a ban on protests, strikes, and public gatherings they deemed threats to stability. This came after hundreds of protesters, mostly young people, took to the streets in Bissau to demand the release of detained opposition figures and the immediate publication of election results. Security forces quickly dispersed the demonstrations, further deepening public anxiety.
Guinea-Bissau has a long history of political instability and military interventions, partly linked to its role as a transit point for international drug trafficking. The current crisis has once again drawn attention to the fragile nature of its democratic institutions and the urgent need for regional and international intervention to prevent further unrest.
Source:Africa Publicity
