The decision was announced after an emergency virtual summit of West African leaders. Military officers had taken control, suspended the elections, and detained President Umaro Embaló along with key officials.

The coup happened as the country awaited official election results and weeks after the government claimed it foiled an earlier coup attempt. Observation teams from the AU, ECOWAS, and the West African Elders Forum condemned the takeover.

Read Also: ECOWAS and AU Observers Condemn Guinea-Bissau Coup, Demand Release of Officials

In its statement, ECOWAS demanded the immediate release of the president and other detained officials and said Guinea-Bissau would remain suspended until constitutional order is restored.

The bloc also set up a mediation team led by the presidents of Togo, Cabo Verde, and Senegal to engage the coup leaders. ECOWAS urged the country’s armed forces to return to their constitutional duties.

Source: TheCable

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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

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