The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has suspended Guinea-Bissau from all its decision-making bodies following the November 26 military coup that disrupted the country’s electoral process.
Military officers in Guinea-Bissau, on Wednesday, assumed “total control” of the country, suspending its electoral process and shutting all borders. The junta also arrested President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and several top government and military officials.
The self-styled High Military Command for the Restoration of Order appointed Gen. Horta N’Tam as Transitional President.
Speaking in a communique issued late Thursday after an emergency virtual summit of its Heads of State and Government convened to review the development, ECOWAS leaders condemned the military takeover and demanded the unconditional release of the president and all detained officials.
“The MSC decides, in accordance with the provisions of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance 2001 (A/SP/12/01), to suspend Guinea-Bissau from all ECOWAS decision-making bodies until the restoration of full and effective constitutional order in the country”, the bloc stated.
To advance negotiations, ECOWAS also constituted a high-level mediation mission comprising Togo’s President, Faure Gnassingbé, Cabo Verde’s President, Jose Neves, and Senegal’s President, Bassirou Diomaye Faye. The team is expected to engage the junta on steps toward restoring democratic governance.
The regional leaders reiterated their call on the Guinea-Bissau armed forces to withdraw from political activities, return to the barracks and respect their constitutional mandate.
