By Favour Ulebor, Abuja
West African leaders have suspended Guinea-Bissau from all ECOWAS decision-making our bodies after a army coup on November 26 and known as for the speedy return of constitutional rule, saying the coup threatens the nation’s fragile democracy.
The Extraordinary Session of ECOWAS’ Mediation and Safety Council (MSC) met nearly on Thursday night time, chaired by Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio. The assembly included leaders from Cabo Verde, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire’s vp, and senior ministers from Benin, The Gambia, and Togo.
Additionally attending have been the heads of the ECOWAS Fee, African Union Fee, United Nations Workplace for West Africa and the Sahel, Guinea-Bissau’s international minister, and ECOWAS’s particular envoy.
The MSC reviewed a report from ECOWAS Fee President Omar Touray in regards to the disaster. Leaders expressed concern over disruptions to the electoral course of and praised residents for his or her “resilience and dedication to democracy” through the polls.
The MSC mentioned it “condemns within the strongest phrases the coup d’état perpetrated on 26 November 2025 and requires the unconditional restoration of constitutional order at once.”
It additionally mentioned the bloc “rejects any preparations that perpetuate the unlawful abortion of the democratic course of and the subversion of the need of the individuals of Guinea-Bissau.”
ECOWAS demanded that coup organisers enable the Nationwide Electoral Fee to proceed its work, stating that they have to “respect the need of the individuals and permit the Nationwide Electoral Fee to proceed at once with the declaration of the outcomes of the elections of 23 November 2025.”
The bloc additionally known as for the “speedy and unconditional launch of all detained officers, particularly President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, in addition to the electoral officers and all different political figures.”
It warned that coup leaders could be held “each individually and collectively liable for the safety of life and property of all residents and residents of Guinea-Bissau and for the safety and security of all detainees.”
The MSC requested coup leaders to ensure protected passage for ECOWAS and worldwide election observers. It mentioned, “The MSC decides, in accordance with the provisions of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance 2001 (A/SP/12/01), to droop Guinea-Bissau from all ECOWAS decision-making our bodies till the restoration of full and efficient constitutional order within the nation.”
A high-level mediation workforce, led by the ECOWAS chair and together with the presidents of Togo, Cabo Verde, and Senegal, will journey to Bissau to “have interaction the leaders of the coup with a view to making sure the total restoration of constitutional order.”
The communiqué additionally urged Guinea-Bissau’s armed forces “to return to barracks and to take care of their constitutional function” and requested the ECOWAS Stabilisation Help Mission to proceed defending state establishments.
ECOWAS mentioned it “reserves the correct to make use of all choices” below its protocols, together with sanctions, towards those that disrupted the democratic course of.
The African Union condemned the coup and demanded Embalo’s speedy launch. The European Union known as for “a swift return to the constitutional order and the resumption of the electoral course of.”
Guinea-Bissau has been in chaos since Wednesday, when troopers detained President Embalo and stopped the discharge of provisional election outcomes.
Senegal’s authorities mentioned Embalo was flown into the nation “protected and sound” on Thursday. The coup got here throughout a good race between Embalo and opposition candidate Fernando Dias da Costa, who informed AFP he believed he gained and claimed the takeover was “organised by Mr Embalo.” Embalo denied any wrongdoing.
After the coup, the army appointed Normal Horta N’Tam, the military chief of employees, to steer a one-year transition. “I’ve simply been sworn in to steer the Excessive Command,” N’Tam mentioned after taking the oath.
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