Election monitors from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU) have condemned the military takeover in Guinea-Bissau and called for the immediate release of detained government officials.

In a joint statement signed by former presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, along with ECOWAS mission head Issifu Baba Braimah Kamara, the observers said the coup disrupted a peaceful election process and undermined the gains of democracy.

They described the military’s takeover, announced shortly after elections as a “blatant attempt to disrupt the democratic process” and urged ECOWAS and the AU to act swiftly to restore constitutional order.

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The observers urged Bissau-Guineans to remain calm and emphasised their commitment to supporting the country’s return to democracy.

The military, which announced it had taken total control of the country, also detained key figures including the president, the chief of staff, the deputy chief of staff and the interior minister.

Source: Channels