The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has suspended Guinea-Bissau from all its decision-making bodies following the military coup that toppled the country’s democratic structures.
The suspension was announced after an emergency meeting of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council (MSC) late Thursday, held virtually under the chairmanship of Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio.
In a statement obtained by our newsroom, the MSC said:
“The MSC decides, in accordance with the provisions of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance 2001 (A/SP/12/01), to suspend Guinea-Bissau from all ECOWAS decision-making bodies until the restoration of full and effective constitutional order in the country.”
The coup occurred on Wednesday, three days after Guinea-Bissau’s disputed presidential and legislative elections. The military officers who seized power suspended the electoral process, shut the country’s borders, and halted the announcement of election results.
ECOWAS strongly condemned the development, describing the takeover as a direct assault on democracy and the will of the Bissau-Guinean people.
“The MSC condemns in the strongest terms the coup d’etat perpetrated on 26 November 2025 and calls for the unconditional restoration of constitutional order without delay,” the regional bloc said. It added that it “rejects any arrangements that perpetuate the illegal abortion of the democratic process and the subversion of the will of the people of Guinea-Bissau.”
The bloc demanded that the military allow the electoral commission to release the results of Sunday’s elections without delay. It also called for “the immediate and unconditional release of all detained officials, in particular President Umaro Sissoco Embaló as well as the electoral officials and all other political figures.”
Meanwhile, the coup leaders have named the army chief of staff, General Horta N’Tam, as transitional leader for a one-year period.
