Another familiar face from the Embaló years has been shown the door in Bissau. The Guinea-Bissau junta, led by General Horta N’tam, has dismissed Lieutenant-General Sadji Fati, a senior officer close to ousted president Umaro Sissoco Embaló, according to a decree seen by AFP on Wednesday. The order took effect immediately.
Who Is Sadji Fati?
Fati is no minor figure. He served as defence minister and military adviser under Embaló, and he headed the presidential civil office at the palace when the decree arrived. For a man who sat so close to power, a one-line dismissal is a sharp fall. It also tells soldiers and civil servants where they stand.
A Pattern of Dismissals
This is not a one-off. Since Embaló fell, the military leadership has been steadily clearing out people who served him in defence and security roles. Many members of his presidential guard have lost their posts, along with most officers seen as close to him. Interior Minister General Mama Saliu Embaló and Fisheries Minister Maria Da Cruz Correia were removed recently too. Embaló is now in exile in Morocco.
The junta seized power on November 26, a day before provisional election results were due. Many observers suspected Embaló had orchestrated the coup to stop an election he seemed set to lose. The recent sackings suggest the generals now want distance from him.
Elections Still in Doubt
The Guinea-Bissau political crisis is far from settled. The junta is supposed to organise presidential and legislative elections on December 6 to restore civilian rule. Yet the National Electoral Commission said last week that conditions for holding them are not in place. Before that, Embaló told AFP he intended to run for president again.
What It Means for the Region
West African politics has seen this story before. Military leadership often promises a quick handover and then finds reasons to wait. Neighbours and regional bodies will be watching whether Bissau’s soldiers keep their word. For citizens who have lived through many shocks since independence, the real test is a credible vote, not another reshuffle at the palace.
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