The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has suspended Guinea-Bissau from all its decision-making bodies with immediate effect following the military coup that toppled President Umaro Sissoco Embaló on Tuesday, 26 November.
In a strongly worded communiqué issued after an emergency virtual summit late Thursday, ECOWAS Heads of State condemned the coup and demanded the unconditional restoration of constitutional order.
ECOWAS commended the citizens of Guinea-Bissau for their resilience and commitment to democracy during the electoral process, while expressing deep concern over the military’s interruption of the vote.
The regional bloc rejected any arrangement aimed at legitimising the unconstitutional seizure of power and insisted that the coup leaders must allow the National Electoral Commission to announce the results of the 23 November election without further delay.
ECOWAS also ordered the immediate and unconditional release of President Embaló, detained electoral officials, and all other political figures currently in custody.
The leaders warned that those responsible for the coup would be held individually and collectively accountable for any harm caused and directed that safe passage be provided for ECOWAS and international election observers.
The extraordinary session of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council, chaired by Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio, was attended by the presidents of Cabo Verde, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, and Sierra Leone, along with Côte d’Ivoire’s Vice-President and senior ministers from Benin, The Gambia, and Togo.
Also in attendance were the presidents of the ECOWAS and African Union Commissions, the head of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel, Guinea-Bissau’s Foreign Minister, and the bloc’s special envoy to the country.
