African-led international election observers have strongly condemned Wednesday’s military coup in Guinea-Bissau, describing it as a “blatant attempt to disrupt the democratic process” and urging the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU) to act swiftly to restore constitutional order.
In a joint statement issued, the ECOWAS, African Union, and West African Elders’ Forum (WAEF) observation missions deplored the armed forces’ announcement that they had “taken control” of the country, suspended the electoral process, and placed President Umaro Sissoco Embalo and senior officials under arrest.
“We express deep concern over the arrests of top officials, including those in charge of the electoral process,” the missions said, calling for the “immediate release” of all detainees so that the counting and announcement of results from the 23 November presidential and legislative elections can proceed without further delay.
The National Electoral Commission (CNE) had been scheduled to release official results today, Thursday, 27 November. Both incumbent President Embalo and leading independent challenger Fernando Dias had already declared victory, heightening tensions ahead of the announcement.
Military officers justified the takeover by alleging that “drug lords” were attempting to destabilise the country. They imposed a night curfew and ordered the closure of all air, land, and sea borders until further notice.
The observer missions stressed that voting on 23 November had concluded in an “orderly and peaceful” manner across the country. “It is regrettable that this announcement [of a coup] came at a time when the missions had just concluded meetings with the two leading presidential candidates, who assured us of their willingness to accept the will of the people,” the statement read.
The observers urged Guinea-Bissau’s armed forces to respect democratic norms and called on citizens to “remain calm” during the crisis.
The ECOWAS mission is led by former Ghanaian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ambassador Baba Kamara; the AU delegation by former Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi; and the West African Elders’ Forum by former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan.
As West Africa braces for another potential standoff between a military junta and regional bodies, international attention is focused on whether ECOWAS and the AU will impose sanctions or deploy mediation teams to reverse the coup and safeguard Guinea-Bissau’s fragile democratic gains.
