“In light of potential flight delays originating in or heading to Bissau, regular consultation of information provided by the respective airlines is recommended,” reads a statement published by the Portuguese embassy in Bissau.
The embassy further states that it “plans to resume regular consular operations scheduled at the Consular Section next Tuesday, December 2,” and adds that “applicants affected by the cancellation of their appointments will start to be contacted with new rescheduled dates from that date.”
The consular section, meanwhile, “remains operational for emergency consular assistance to Portuguese citizens.”
The diplomatic representation also asserts that it “continues to closely monitor the security situation’s development” in Guinea-Bissau’s capital following the coup d’état and “maintains the recommendation of caution and vigilance, as well as avoiding unnecessary travel.”
General Horta Inta-A was inaugurated today as the transitional President of Guinea-Bissau, a day after the military seized power in the country, pre-empting the release of the general election results from November 23.
The military announced the removal of President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, suspended the electoral process, media outlets, and imposed a curfew.
The elections, which took place without incident, occurred without the participation of the main opposition party, the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), and its candidate Domingos Simões Pereira, who were excluded from the race and had declared support for opposition candidate Fernando Dias da Costa.
Simões Pereira was detained, and the opposition is denouncing the military’s takeover as a maneuver to prevent the electoral results’ release.
*** The delegation of the Lusa agency in Guinea-Bissau has been suspended since August following the expulsion of the representatives of Portuguese media outlets by the Government. Coverage is being ensured remotely. ***
