The Nigerian embassy in Guinea-Bissau has granted asylum to Fernando Dias da Costa, the country’s opposition presidential candidate, in response to alleged threats to his life following last week’s military coup.
Military officers proclaimed the coup on Wednesday, only days after Guinea-Bissau’s presidential election, in which both incumbent President Umaro Embaló and his primary challenger, da Costa, declared victory before the official results were released.
Nigeria criticized the seizure and called for a swift return to constitutional order.
In a letter to the President of the Economic Community of West African States Commission, Omar Touray, dated November 30, Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar stated that President Bola Tinubu had granted da Costa sanctuary and protection inside the Nigerian embassy in Bissau.
Tuggar stated that the decision was made “in response to threats against da Costa’s life.”
“In this regard, it would be appreciated if you would kindly mandate the ECOWAS Stabilization Support Mission in Guinea-Bissau to provide him protection and security while in the premises of the Nigerian embassy,” the letter stated.
Alkasim Abdulkadir, the foreign affairs minister’s special assistant for media and communications strategy, confirmed the letter’s authenticity to The Cable on Monday.
He said, “The decision of the Federal Government of Nigeria to grant asylum and provide protection to Fernando Dia Da Costa falls squarely within Nigeria’s sovereign responsibility and longstanding commitment to regional peace, stability, and democratic governance.”
He added that Nigeria acted “in the broader interest of de-escalation,” saying the government had exercised its discretion “to prevent further deterioration of tensions and to promote social cohesion in Guinea-Bissau and the wider West African sub-region.”
According to Abdulkadir, the action is consistent with ECOWAS values and reflects Nigeria’s role as a stabilizing power in West Africa.
Following the coup, ECOWAS convened an emergency virtual summit of heads of state, suspending Guinea-Bissau from the regional organization until constitutional order was restored.
