Guinea-Bissau’s electoral crisis deepened after the national commission announced it could not complete the November 23 presidential vote because armed men seized ballots, tally sheets, and staff computers while also destroying the servers holding official results. The attack occurred a day before the commission was due to release the outcome. Major-General Horta Inta-a was subsequently sworn in as transitional president, promising a one-year transitional government and citing a need to prevent “narco-traffickers” from influencing politics. Regional bloc ECOWAS is now pressuring the new military leaders to restore constitutional order, with sanctions under consideration. With critical election data missing, the country’s long history of instability and its links to drug trafficking continue to cast a shadow over its political future.
Reuters
