The President of Guinea Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embalo, took the helm of the rotating presidency of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Sunday July 3 in Accra (Ghana) at the end of the 61st ordinary summit of heads of state and government of the sub-regional organization.
He replaced the Ghanaian leader, Nana Akufo-Addo, in office since 2020. It is a first for a head of state from a Portuguese-speaking country to be brought to the head of this institution.
“Guinea-Bissau has just made history. For the first time, by the hand of His Excellency the President of the Republic, General Umaro Sissoco Embaló, our country wins the presidency of ECOWAS”, underlines a press release from the Bissau-Guinean presidency.
“Happy to have been elected to the presidency of ECOWAS. It is a great honor and a mark of confidence in Guinea-Bissau. Warm thanks to my peers. The challenges are important and we must give the best of us,” Emballo wrote on Twitter after the summit.
Guinea Bissau has been hosting on its territory, since June 20, a regional force deployed for the stabilization of the country. ECOWAS had decided to approve the sending of this support force after the failure of the coup attempt which had targeted Umaro Sissoco Embalo, on February 1st. The coup had caused eleven deaths.
By OMA Newsletter N° 766 of 04/07/2022
Article published under the direction of Dr. Najib Kettani
The OMA, NGO with an Intercontinental vocation
For the development of cultural exchanges
Valuing human potential
The promotion and consolidation of Africa’s development, and
Inter-African integration
