ECOWAS & AU Condemn Guinea-Bissau Military Coup, Demand Release of Detained Election Officials Amidst Political Crisis

ECOWAS and African Union Denounce Guinea-Bissau Military Takeover Amidst Election Turmoil

DAKAR — In a concerning development for regional stability, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU) have issued a joint statement expressing grave concern over a military coup in Guinea-Bissau. The dramatic seizure of power by a faction of army officers transpired on Wednesday, coinciding critically with the eve of the official announcement of results from a fiercely contested presidential election.

Arrests and Broken Promises

The joint declaration from the observer organizations, dispatched from Dakar, not only detailed the military's assertion of control but also highlighted the troubling arrests of several election officials. Observers described the timing of the coup announcement as "regrettable," especially in light of recent engagements where they had met with the two leading presidential contenders. Both candidates had, according to the observers, provided assurances of their readiness to accept the democratic outcome reflecting the will of the Guinean-Bissau people.

Call for Constitutional Restoration

Distinguished figures were part of these crucial observer missions, including former President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi of Mozambique and former President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria. Their participation underscores the broad regional and continental commitment to democratic governance. In their collective appeal, the missions have urged regional bodies to implement all necessary measures to facilitate the immediate restoration of constitutional order within the coup-prone West African nation.

Furthermore, the statement made a direct and urgent plea to the armed forces: "We urge the armed forces to immediately release the detained officials to allow the country's electoral process to proceed to its conclusion." This call emphasizes the critical importance of upholding the integrity of the electoral process and ensuring a peaceful, democratic transition.