The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has suspended Guinea-Bissau from all its decision-making bodies following the military coup that ousted President Umaro Sissoco Embaló on November 26.
The decision was reached during an emergency virtual summit held on Thursday, where ECOWAS leaders strongly condemned the power grab and demanded the immediate restoration of constitutional order, according to a report by the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) on X.
In a communiqué released after the meeting, the bloc declared that it would not recognize any arrangement aimed at legitimizing the coup or “perpetuating the illegal abortion of the democratic process.” ECOWAS also directed that Guinea-Bissau’s National Electoral Commission be allowed to publish the results of the November 23 presidential election without further delay.
The statement further ordered the unconditional release of President Embaló, detained electoral officials, and other political leaders held by the military.
“The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has suspended Guinea-Bissau from all its decision-making bodies with immediate effect following a military coup that overthrew 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 takeover in the strongest terms and ordered the unconditional restoration of constitutional rule,” the NTA report stated.
Key Details from the ECOWAS Meeting
According to NTA, ECOWAS leaders warned that the coup organisers would be held individually and collectively responsible for any harm or instability arising from the takeover. The bloc also commended citizens for their resilience but expressed alarm over military interference in democratic governance.
The meeting was chaired by Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio and attended by the presidents of Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Liberia, Cabo Verde, and Sierra Leone, alongside Côte d’Ivoire’s Vice President and senior ministers from Benin, Gambia, and Togo. Representatives from the African Union (AU), the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), and Guinea-Bissau’s Foreign Minister were also present.
Background
The coup occurred just a day before the expected announcement of presidential election results, sparking widespread uncertainty.
On Wednesday, the military announced that it had “taken over total control of government,” grounding flights and leaving hundreds of international observers stranded.
Among those trapped were former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan and former Mozambican President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, who were in the country as part of a joint AU-ECOWAS election observation mission. Jonathan has since safely returned to Nigeria on Thursday night.
ECOWAS reiterated its zero-tolerance policy for unconstitutional power grabs, stressing that it would continue to work with regional and international partners to restore democracy and stability in Guinea-Bissau.
