The Economic Community of West African States has suspended Guinea-Bissau from all decision-making bodies and threatened severe consequences for coup leaders following Wednesday’s military takeover that disrupted the country’s electoral process.
The Mediation and Security Council (MSC) of ECOWAS issued the directive after an emergency virtual meeting on Thursday, chaired by Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio, in response to the coup that derailed Guinea-Bissau’s democratic transition.
President Bio warned that the regional bloc would not tolerate the overthrow of legitimate democratic processes. “We cannot allow the illegal abortion of a democratic process,” he stated. “We must stand firmly with the people of Guinea-Bissau, who only days ago demonstrated their commitment to democracy.”
In a strongly worded communiqué, ECOWAS expressed alarm over the political crisis, acknowledging that citizens had displayed “resilience and commitment to democracy” through their participation in the November 23 elections.
The MSC stated: “We condemn in the strongest terms the coup d’état perpetrated on 26 November 2025,” while rejecting any arrangement that would legitimize “the subversion of the will of the people.”
The Council demanded that military leaders immediately allow the National Electoral Commission to announce election results and called for the “immediate and unconditional release of all detained officials, in particular President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, electoral officials and all other political figures.”
ECOWAS placed full responsibility on the coup leaders for protecting lives and property during the crisis.
Expressing particular concern about international personnel in the country, the regional body urged coup leaders to “guarantee the safety and facilitate the evacuation and safe passage of ECOWAS and all other international election observers.”
The suspension of Guinea-Bissau from ECOWAS decision-making bodies will remain in effect until constitutional order is fully restored, in accordance with the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.
To facilitate dialogue, ECOWAS has authorized its Chair to lead a high-level delegation to Bissau. The mission will include Presidents Faure Gnassingbé of Togo, Jose Maria Neves of Cabo Verde, and Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal, accompanied by the President of the ECOWAS Commission.
The regional bloc called on Guinea-Bissau’s Armed Forces to “return to barracks and maintain their constitutional role,” while directing the ECOWAS Stabilisation Support Mission to continue safeguarding national institutions.
ECOWAS warned that it maintains full authority over the crisis and reserves the right to implement all available measures under its protocols, including imposing sanctions on “all entities deemed culpable of disrupting the electoral and democratic process.”
The coup occurred just days after Guinea-Bissau held presidential elections, cutting short what appeared to be a successful democratic exercise and raising fresh concerns about political stability in West Africa.
