African Union suspends Guinea-Bissau after coup and former president flees to Republic of Congo

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — The African Union suspended Guinea-Bissau following a military coup, saying it won't tolerate unconstitutional changes.

In a resolution adopted by the AU Peace and Security Council on Friday, the organization reiterated it has “zero tolerance on unconstitutional changes of government.” It moved to "immediately suspend the Republic of Guinea-Bissau from participating in all activities of the Union, its organs and institutions, until constitutional order is restored in the country."

Speaking to The Associated Press on Saturday evening, former president Umaro Sissoco Embaló's chief of staff said the ousted leader traveled to the Republic of the Congo overnight and arrived Saturday morning.

“Yes, the president is already in Brazzaville. We left Dakar last night and arrived in Congo-Brazzaville this morning,” Califa Soares Cassamá, the former president’s chief of staff, confirmed to AP.

Embaló had previously arrived in neighboring Senegal on Thursday on a flight chartered by the Senegalese government.

Guinea-Bissau, one of the world’s poorest countries, has been dogged by coups and attempted coups since its independence from Portugal more than 50 years ago, including a coup attempt in October. The country of 2.2 million people is known as a hub for drug trafficking between Latin America and Europe, a trend that experts say has fueled its political crises.

On Saturday, the president of the Transitional Republic, Gen. Horta Inta-a, appointed a new 28-member government, most of whom are allies of the ousted president.

The West African regional bloc known as ECOWAS on Thursday suspended Guinea-Bissau from its decision-making bodies until the constitutional order is restored.

The military takeover Wednesday came after presidential and legislative elections on Sunday. Incumbent President Embaló and opposition candidate Fernando Dias each claimed victory.

Following the coup, the military high command in the West African nation inaugurated former army chief of staff Inta-a, as the head of the military government, which will oversee a one-year transition period, according to a declaration broadcast on state television.

A view of a street in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, Friday, Nov. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Darcicio Barbosa)

Dinis N’Tchama, military spokesperson, speaks on Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025 in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau. (TGB Guinea-Bissau via AP)

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Masyn Winn singled home the winning run with two outs in the 11th inning to give the St. Louis Cardinals a 2-1 victory over the slumping New York Mets on Wednesday.

Nolan Gorman hit a tying single in the sixth and reliever Gordon Graceffo (1-0) pitched out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the top of the 11th.

St. Louis (4-2) took two of three games from the Mets, who went 1 for 29 with runners in scoring position during the series. New York (3-3) is batting .162 in those situations this year.

Juan Soto homered for the Mets in the sixth — right after Francisco Lindor got picked off first base by starter Matthew Liberatore.

With two outs and automatic runner JJ Wetherholt on third, Winn lofted a blooper to shallow right field that fell just in front of diving rookie Carson Benge. It was the first hit of the series for Winn, and his first career walk-off RBI. He is 4 for 25 (.160) this season.

Tobias Myers (0-1) worked 1 2/3 innings in a hard-luck loss.

Mets: LHP David Peterson (0-0) faces LHP Robbie Ray (0-1) in San Francisco on Thursday night.

Cardinals: Following an off day, RHP Michael McGreevy (0-0) starts Friday in Detroit against LHP Framber Valdez (0-0).

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New York Mets' pitcher Freddy Peralta throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/LG Patterson)

New York Mets' Juan Soto hits a home run in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/LG Patterson)

St. Louis Cardinals' JJ Wetherholt is congratulated by teammates after scoring during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/LG Patterson)

New York Mets' right fielder Carson Benge misses a fly ball during the eleventh inning of a baseball game which allowed the St. Louis Cardinals to win the game Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/LG Patterson)

St. Louis Cardinal teammates surround Masyn Winn after he hit the game winning hit during the eleventh inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/LG Patterson)