In a sharp rebuke to the military junta ruling Guinea-Bissau following the November 26 coup, the European Parliament has adopted a resolution demanding the immediate publication of results from the country’s November 23 general elections and condemning the unconstitutional seizure of power.
The resolution, passed on December 17, unequivocally rejects the military’s interruption of the electoral process just days after polls closed, and bars the main opposition party, PAIGC, from contesting. MEPs highlighted ties between deposed President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and coup leader General Horta Inta-A, fueling allegations that the takeover was orchestrated to avert an electoral defeat for the incumbent.
“The European Parliament calls on Guinea-Bissau’s electoral commission to publish the verified electoral results without military or political interference,” the statement from the EU parliament states. It also urges the EU to review funding agreements to prevent support that could bolster the junta, while prioritizing aid to democratic civil society. The resolution demands the unconditional release of detained opposition leaders, including Domingos Simões Pereira and others held incommunicado since the coup, and calls for investigations into reported human rights abuses, including crackdowns on protesters, journalists, and activists.
Opposition candidate Fernando Dias da Costa, who has sought refuge in an embassy, is among those affected, while Embaló was allowed to leave the country shortly after his initial detention. Reports indicate he traveled via Senegal to Congo-Brazzaville and Morocco before reportedly returning.
The EU’s strong language contrasts with the response from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). At its December 14 summit in Abuja, ECOWAS leaders condemned the coup, suspended Guinea-Bissau’s membership, and threatened targeted sanctions against those who obstructed constitutional order. However, they advocated a “short transition programme led by an inclusive government” without explicitly calling for the release of the election results, disappointing observers who expected a firmer push to respect the voters’ will.
International monitors described the November 23 elections as generally orderly, despite controversies over the exclusion of opposition candidates. The electoral commission later claimed armed intruders seized documents and equipment, preventing the announcement of the results—claims experts say could be overcome with pressure.
Critics argue ECOWAS’s approach risks setting a dangerous precedent in a region where five member states are now under military rule. The resurgence of coups in West Africa is often linked to incumbent leaders’ authoritarian tendencies, including suppressing opposition and the media.
The European Parliament’s resolution calls for inclusive dialogue, potential EU sanctions against coup perpetrators, and the transmission of the matter to regional bodies and the UN.
