The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has suspended Guinea-Bissau from all its decision-making bodies following the military coup of Wednesday, November 26, pending the full restoration of constitutional order.
The decision was taken at an extraordinary session of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council (MSC), held virtually on Thursday night, November 27, and chaired by Sierra Leone’s president, Julius Maada Bio.
The meeting was attended by leaders from Cabo Verde, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire’s vice president, and senior ministers from Benin, The Gambia, and Togo.
Also present were the heads of the ECOWAS commission, the African Union Commission, the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel, Guinea-Bissau’s foreign minister, and the ECOWAS special envoy.
The MSC reviewed a report by ECOWAS Commission president Omar Touray on the unfolding crisis.
Members expressed concern over the disruption of the electoral process and commended citizens for their resilience and commitment to democracy during the polls.
The MSC condemned the November 26 coup in the strongest terms and demanded the immediate and unconditional restoration of constitutional order.
It rejected any attempt to legitimize the overthrow of democratic governance, describing it as the illegal abortion of the democratic process and the subversion of the will of the people of Guinea-Bissau.
ECOWAS urged coup leaders to allow the National Electoral Commission (NEC) to resume its work and proceed without delay with announcing the results of the November 23, elections.
It also called for the immediate and unconditional release of all detained officials, including president Umaro Sissoco Embalo, electoral officers and political figures.
The bloc warned the coup plotters that they would be held individually and collectively responsible for the safety of all citizens, residents, and detainees.
It also demanded safe passage for ECOWAS and international election observers.
Invoking the ECOWAS protocol on democracy and good governance (2001), the MSC formally suspended Guinea-Bissau from all ECOWAS decision-making bodies until constitutional governance is restored.
A high-level mediation delegation, led by the ECOWAS chair and comprising the presidents of Togo, Cabo Verde, and Senegal, is expected to visit Bissau to press for a return to democratic rule.
The communiqué urged the Guinean armed forces to return to barracks and maintain their constitutional role, while directing the ECOWAS stabilization support mission to continue protecting the country’s state institutions.
ECOWAS said it reserves the right to use all options under its protocols, including sanctions, against those responsible for derailing the democratic process.
The African Union also condemned the coup and demanded president Embalo’s immediate release, while the European Union called for a swift return to constitutional order and the continuation of the electoral process.
Guinea-Bissau has been in turmoil since soldiers detained president Embalo and halted the release of provisional election results.
Senegal later announced that Embalo had been flown into the country safe and sound on Thursday.
The coup occurred amid a closely contested presidential race between Embalo and opposition candidate Fernando Dias da Costa.
Following the takeover, the military appointed the army chief of staff, General Horta N’Tam, to lead a one-year transition government.
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