By Paul Ejime
The ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council (MSC), held an extraordinary virtual meeting at the level of Heads of State and Government and took wide-ranging decisions, including the “suspension of Guinea-Bissau from all ECOWAS decision-making bodies until the restoration of full and effective constitutional order in the country,” following the military coup of 26 November.
“The MSC condemns in the strongest terms the coup d’état… and calls for the unconditional restoration of constitutional order without delay,” said a Communique of the meeting, held on 27 November.
“It rejects any arrangements that perpetuate the illegal abortion of the democratic process and the subversion of the will of the people of Guinea-Bissau.”
Chaired by President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, current chairperson of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, “the MSC expressed its deep concern with the unfolding political crisis in Guinea-Bissau, especially at a time when Bissau Guineans have demonstrated resilience and commitment to democracy by participating actively in the Presidential and parliamentary elections held on 23 November 2025.”
The Council “demands that the leaders of the coup respect the will of the people and allow the National Electoral Commission, CNE, to proceed without delay with the declaration of the results of the elections of 23 November 2025.”
“The MSC further calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all detained officials, in particular, President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, as well as the electoral officials and all other political figures.”
“The MSC holds the leaders of the coup both individually and collectively responsible for the protection of life and property of all citizens and residents of Guinea-Bissau and for the security and safety of all detainees,” the Communique said.
It also “calls on the leaders of the coup to guarantee the safety and facilitate the evacuation and safe passage of ECOWAS and all other international election observers.”
“The MSC mandates the Chair of the Authority to lead a High-Level Mediation Mission to Guinea-Bissau to engage the leaders of the coup with a view to ensuring the full restoration of constitutional order,” the Communique said, adding that the Mission should include President of the Council of Togo Faure Gnassingbe, Presidents Jose Maria Pereira Neves of Cabo Verde and Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal, accompanied by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Alieu Touray.
“The MSC urges the Armed forces of Guinea Bissau to return to the barracks and maintain their constitutional role,” the Communique said.
It also “orders the ECOWAS Stabilization Support Mission in Guinea Bissau (ESSMGB) to continue to help protect the institutions of Guinea-Bissau.”
The statement warned that the MSC “reserves the right to use all options…, including sanctions on all entities deemed culpable of disrupting the electoral and democratic process in Guinea-Bissau.”
The summit was attended by five Heads of State – Presidents Jose Maria Pereira Neves (Cabo Verde), John Mahama (Ghana), Joseph Boakai (Liberia), Bola Ahmed Tinubu (Nigeria), Bassirou Diomaye Faye (Senegal), and Chairman Maada Bio, of Sierra Leone.
Cote d’Ivoire was represented by Vice-President Tiemoko Meyliet Kone, Benin by Foreign Minister Olushegun Adjadi Bakari, The Gambia, by Foreign Minister Sering Modou Njie, and Togo, by Minister of State for Cooperation and Togolese Abroad, Yackoley Kokou Johnson.
Also in attendance were the Commission President, Dr Touray, Chairperson of the African Union Commission Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General and Head of UNOWAS, Leonardo Santos Simao, Guinea-Bissau’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Carlos Pinto Pereira, and the ECOWAS Special Envoy on Terrorism, Ambassador Baba Kamara, who led the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission to Guinea-Bissau.
A group of military officers announced the “takeover of government” in Guinea-Bissau, with President Embalo reportedly arrested, a day before the CNE was scheduled to announce provisional results of the elections. Embalo and another front-runner, independent candidate Fernando Dias, both claimed victory.
The military group ordered a night-to-dawn curfew, suspension of the electoral process and closure of the country’s air, land and sea borders, now reopened.
On Friday, 27 November, Gen. Horta -A, the head of the Presidential Guard, and reportedly a close ally of President Embalo, was sworn in as the President of the Transition for a one-year term.
ECOWAS and other observers described the elections as generally Peaceful and Orderly, Despite Initial Deficiencies.
The putsch, one of more than half a dozen successful and failed coups in the country since its independence from Portugal in 1973, adds to the uncertainty and political instability that have overshadowed the elections in the country, which comprises 37 mostly uninhabited islands.
In their Joint Statement, the heads of the ECOWAS, African Union and the West African Elders’ Forum Observation Missions condemned the coup and called on “ECOWAS and the African Union to take the necessary steps to restore constitutional order.”
The coup has also been strongly condemned by the governments of Nigeria and Ghana, and the African Union, among others.
Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for the United Nations Secretary-General, said the Secretary-General was following the situation “with deep concern,” and called on all national stakeholders in Guinea-Bissau to exercise restraint and uphold the rule of law.
Three of ECOWAS’ 15 member States – Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger – left the organisation to form an Alliance of Sahel States, AES, after military coups, while a fourth member State, Guinea, is running a political transition programme also after a military coup, with a presidential election scheduled in December.
