The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has suspended Guinea-Bissau from all its activities following the military coup that disrupted the country’s recent elections. The regional bloc also set up a high-level Mediation Mission, led by ECOWAS Chair Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, to engage the coup leaders and ensure the restoration of constitutional order.
The decision was announced after an emergency meeting of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council (MSC), which strongly condemned the coup and expressed deep concern over the political crisis. The MSC called for the immediate release of all detained civilian leaders, including President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, and urged the military to guarantee the safety of citizens and international observers.
The communique stressed the need to respect the results of Guinea-Bissau’s presidential and parliamentary elections held on 23 November 2025, rejecting any attempt to subvert the democratic process. ECOWAS also directed its Stabilization Support Mission in Guinea-Bissau (ESSMGB) to continue protecting the country’s institutions.
The Mediation Mission will include leaders from Togo, Cabo Verde, and Senegal, working alongside the ECOWAS Commission to negotiate a return to full constitutional governance. ECOWAS warned that it reserves the right to implement sanctions under its 2001 and 2012 protocols if the coup leaders fail to comply.
