ECOWAS suspends Guinea-Bissau, demands immediate restoration of constitutional order
Story by Okafor Vivian
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has suspended Guinea-Bissau from all its decision-making bodies following Wednesday’s military takeover, which occurred barely three days after the country’s disputed presidential and legislative elections.
The decision was announced after an emergency virtual meeting of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council (MSC) held late Thursday under the chairmanship of Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the MSC said the suspension was in line with the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance (2001), stressing that Guinea-Bissau would remain suspended “until the restoration of full and effective constitutional order.”
READ ALSO: Goodluck Jonathan is safe, out of coup-hit Guinea-Bissau – FG
Military officers seized power on Wednesday, halting the electoral process, shutting the country’s borders, and stopping the announcement of election results. The coup plotters also detained several individuals, including President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, who had been widely projected to win the polls.
ECOWAS condemned the coup “in the strongest terms,” describing the events of 26 November 2025 as an illegal disruption of the democratic process and “a subversion of the will of the people of Guinea-Bissau.”
The regional body rejected “any arrangements that perpetuate the illegal abortion of the democratic process,” and demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all detained officials. This includes President Embalo, electoral officers, and other political figures.
READ ALSO: Ex-President Jonathan, other African leaders trapped amid Guinea-Bissau military takeover
ECOWAS further urged the military to respect the people’s mandate by allowing the country’s electoral commission to announce the election results without delay.
Meanwhile, the coup leaders have named the army chief of staff, General Horta N’Tam, as Guinea-Bissau’s interim leader for a one-year period.
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