The Head of the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission to Guinea-Bissau, Ambassador Baba Kamara, has vowed not to leave the country until all 135 observers deployed for the November 23 elections have been safely evacuated after Wednesday’s military coup.
Addressing the observers in Bissau on Thursday, he said he turned down a seat on the special flight that evacuated former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, declaring, “I had the opportunity to leave with former President (Goodluck) Jonathan of Nigeria and his delegation in the limited seats on his special flight, but I cannot leave any observer behind in Guinea-Bissau.”
His stance comes as ECOWAS finalises arrangements for the observers’ chartered return flight, following the overthrow of President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, the imposition of a curfew, and the swearing-in of General Horta Inta-A as transitional leader.
Kamara and Commissioner Abdel-fatua Musah thanked the observers for their commitment and assured them that security measures remain in place until the mission is complete.