ECOWAS officials visit Guinea-Bissau for discussions following military coup

A team from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) arrived in Guinea-Bissau to engage in mediation with the leaders of last weeks military coup, as regional pressure grows on those who seized control following a disputed election. The delegation, led by ECOWAS chairman and Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio, met with the countrys military authorities on Monday, calling for a full restoration of constitutional governance.

The military has intensified restrictions, including bans on public demonstrations and strikes. Sierra Leones Foreign Minister, Timothy Musa Kabba, described the talks as very productive, noting that both sides shared their concerns openly.

Joao Bernardo Vieira, Guinea-Bissaus newly appointed foreign minister, emphasized that ECOWAS would remain in the country throughout this critical period. He added that discussions between the transitional authorities and military leaders would continue.

The coup occurred three days after the nations closely contested presidential election, in which both incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embalo and opposition candidate Fernando Dias da Costa claimed victory prior to the release of provisional results. No official results have been published since the vote.

During the takeover, President Embalo reported to French media that he had been deposed and detained. He has since escaped to Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of Congo. The military appointed former army chief of staff General Horta Inta-A to lead a one-year transitional government, which on Saturday formed a new 28-member cabinet, largely composed of allies of the ousted president.

Nigeria announced that its President, Bola Tinubu, authorized protection for opposition leader Dias da Costa due to an imminent threat to his life. According to a letter from Nigerias foreign minister to ECOWAS, Dias da Costa is currently at the Nigerian embassy in Bissau, with a request for ECOWAS troops to ensure his safety.

Separately, the African Independence Party for Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) reported that its headquarters in the capital were illegally raided by heavily armed militia groups. The party had been barred from presenting a presidential candidate in the November 23 election, a decision criticized by civil rights organizations as part of a broader crackdown on dissent.

ECOWAS, regarded as West Africas leading political and regional organization with 15 member states, suspended Guinea-Bissau from all its decision-making bodies until constitutional order is fully restored.

International condemnation has intensified. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed grave concern over the military takeover, highlighting that ignoring the will of the electorate from the November 23 elections is an unacceptable breach of democratic principles. He called for the immediate and unconditional reinstatement of constitutional governance and the release of all detained officials, including election authorities and opposition figures.

Author: Sophia Brooks