ECOWAS Delegation Flies to Guinea-Bissau to Mediate After Military Coup

A delegation from the West African regional bloc ECOWAS, led by its chairman and Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio, arrived in Bissau on Monday to hold mediation talks with the leaders of a military takeover and press for “the complete restoration of constitutional order.”

The mission arrived as the military government, which seized power last Wednesday, banned demonstrations, strikes and other activities it described as threats to peace and stability. In a statement issued late Sunday, the junta also ordered public institutions and ministries to reopen.

Soldiers took control three days after a closely contested presidential election held on Nov. 23, in which the two leading candidates both claim victory. President Umaro Sissoco Embaló said by phone to French media that he had been deposed and detained; he later left the country for Brazzaville in the Republic of Congo.

The military has installed former army chief of staff Gen. Horta Inta-a as head of a ruling council that will oversee a one-year transition. On Saturday Gen. Inta-a appointed a 28-member government, many of whom are reported to be allies of the ousted president.

Nigeria says its president, Bola Tinubu, has given protection to opposition candidate Fernando Dias da Costa amid what Abuja described as an “imminent threat to his life.” A letter from Nigeria’s foreign minister to ECOWAS states Dias da Costa is being sheltered at Nigeria’s embassy in Bissau and requests ECOWAS troops to provide security.

Regional and International Response

The day after the takeover, ECOWAS suspended Guinea-Bissau from its decision-making bodies until full and effective constitutional order is restored. The bloc said it would send a mediation team to engage the coup leaders with the aim of securing a return to civilian rule.

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres expressed grave concern and condemned the coup, saying overturning the will of voters in the Nov. 23 elections is an unacceptable breach of democratic principles. He called for the immediate and unconditional restoration of constitutional order and the release of detained officials, including electoral authorities and opposition figures.

Context

Guinea-Bissau, a country of about 2.2 million people and one of the world’s poorest, has endured repeated coups and attempted coups since independence from Portugal more than 50 years ago, including an attempt in October. Analysts say the country’s role as a transit hub for drug trafficking between Latin America and Europe has exacerbated its political instability.

Formed in 1975, ECOWAS comprises 15 West African states and was created to promote economic integration and regional cooperation. The bloc frequently intervenes diplomatically and, at times, militarily to address political and security crises among its members, though it has faced challenges in reversing recent coups across the region.

What to Watch

Observers will be watching whether ECOWAS’s mediation yields a roadmap for a swift return to civilian rule, whether detained officials are released, and how regional and international actors respond if the junta resists negotiations. The safety of political leaders and the integrity of election results remain primary concerns.