The West African bloc, which announced the suspension of the country in a communique issued on Thursday, demanded the immediate restoration of constitutional order, threatening sanctions against the junta regime.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced the suspension of Guinea-Bissau from all ECOWAS decision-making bodies after Wednesday’s military coup and takeover of government.
The West African bloc, which announced the suspension of the country in a communique issued on Thursday, demanded the immediate restoration of constitutional order, threatening sanctions against the junta regime.
The resolution was issued on Thursday following an Extraordinary Virtual Session of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council (MSC) at the level of Heads of State and Government, chaired by Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio, who is also Chairperson of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government.
The high-level meeting, convened to assess the escalating political crisis in Guinea-Bissau, brought together regional presidents, foreign ministers, and representatives from the African Union and the United Nations.
Those in attendance included Cabo Verde’s President José Maria Pereira Neves; Ghana’s President John Mahama; Liberia’s President Joseph N. Boakai; Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye; Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio; and Côte d’Ivoire’s Vice President Tiemoko Meyliet Koné.
However, Benin, The Gambia, and Togo were represented by their respective foreign ministers.
Also present were ECOWAS Commission President Omar Alieu Touray; AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf; the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative and Head of UNOWAS, Leonardo Santos Simão; Guinea-Bissau’s Foreign Minister Carlos Pinto Pereira; and ECOWAS Special Envoy on Terrorism, Baba Kamara.
The MSC reviewed a detailed report from the ECOWAS Commission on the situation in Guinea-Bissau, expressing “deep concern” over the political turbulence erupting despite what leaders described as the “resilience and commitment to democracy” shown by citizens during the presidential and parliamentary elections held on 23 November 2025.
ECOWAS condemned “in the strongest terms” the coup d’état of 26 November, insisting that the democratic process must not be derailed.
It rejected “any arrangements that perpetuate the illegal abortion of the democratic process and the subversion of the will of the people of Guinea-Bissau.”
ECOWAS demanded that the coup leaders respect the electoral process and allow the National Electoral Commission to immediately declare the official results from the 23 November polls.
It also called for the “immediate and unconditional release” of all detained persons, including President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, electoral commission officials, and political figures allegedly being held by the mutinous forces.
The MSC held the leaders of the coup responsible, “individually and collectively”, for safeguarding the lives and property of citizens and ensuring the safety of all detainees.
Invoking the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, the MSC announced the suspension of Guinea-Bissau from all ECOWAS decision-making bodies pending the “full and effective restoration of constitutional order.”
To help negotiate the restoration process, the MSC mandated ECOWAS Chair Julius Maada Bio to lead a High-Level Mediation Mission to Bissau.
The delegation will include Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbé, Cabo Verde’s President José Maria Neves, Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, and the ECOWAS Commission President.
The Council urged the armed forces of Guinea-Bissau to “return to barracks and maintain their constitutional role,” while instructing the ECOWAS Stabilization Support Mission in Guinea-Bissau (ESSMGB) to continue protecting state institutions amid the political uncertainty.
The MSC reaffirmed its commitment to monitor developments and warned that the bloc could deploy all instruments available under regional protocols and sanction frameworks.
It stressed that sanctions may be imposed on “all entities deemed culpable of disrupting the electoral and democratic process in Guinea-Bissau.”
ECOWAS said it remains fully seized of the situation and will continue to engage regional and international partners to ensure democracy is restored without delay.