ECOWAS Suspends Guinea-Bissau From All Decision-Making Bodies After Military Coup

Janet Samuel

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has suspended Guinea-Bissau from all its decision-making bodies following Wednesday’s military coup that overthrew the country’s democratic order.

The suspension was announced after a virtual extraordinary meeting of the Authority of Heads of State and Government and the Mediation and Security Council (MSC), chaired by Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio, on Thursday.

The regional leaders reviewed the rapidly unfolding political situation and invoked relevant provisions of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.

In a statement issued after the meeting, the MSC said it had resolved to suspend Guinea-Bissau “until the restoration of full and effective constitutional order” in the country, warning the coup leaders to immediately return to the barracks and reinstate democratic governance.

ECOWAS also held the military officers who seized power “individually and collectively responsible” for the safety of citizens, residents, and all detainees in the country.

The bloc further demanded that the coup leaders guarantee the protection, evacuation, and safe passage of ECOWAS officials and other international election observers currently in Guinea-Bissau.

While directing the ECOWAS Stabilisation and Support Mission in Guinea-Bissau (ESSMGB) to continue safeguarding the nation’s democratic institutions, the MSC reiterated that it remains “seized of the situation” and reserves the right to deploy measures under the 2001 Supplementary Protocol and the 2012 Supplementary Act on Sanctions against individuals or groups found culpable in disrupting the democratic process.

The Authority also mandated a high-level mediation mission to engage with the coup leaders. The delegation will be led by President Julius Maada Bio and will include Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbé, Cabo Verde’s President José Maria Neves, and Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, accompanied by ECOWAS Commission President Dr. Omar Touray.

Despite ECOWAS’ warnings, the coup leaders on Thursday inaugurated Army General Horta N’Tam as the country’s transitional head of state for a one-year period.

The brief swearing-in ceremony took place at army headquarters, a day after President Umaro Embaló and the existing democratic structures were toppled.