The Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government has suspended Guinea-Bissau from all decision-making bodies of the bloc following the 26 November coup, insisting that constitutional order must be restored without delay.
The decision was taken during a virtual meeting of Heads of State and Government convened by Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio under the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council, which voiced deep concern over the escalating political crisis in the country.
In its communiqué, the Council noted that the situation was particularly troubling given the “resilience and commitment to democracy” demonstrated by citizens during the presidential and parliamentary elections held on 23 November 2025.
ECOWAS condemned the coup “in the strongest terms” and demanded the “unconditional restoration of constitutional order,” rejecting any arrangements that would entrench what it described as “the illegal abortion of the democratic process and the subversion of the will of the people of Guinea-Bissau.”
The regional bloc further urged coup leaders to respect the mandate of the National Electoral Commission and “allow the National Electoral Commission to proceed without delay with the declaration of the results of the elections of 23 November 2025.”
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It warned that those who seized power would be held “individually and collectively” responsible for protecting lives and property in Guinea-Bissau, as well as ensuring the security of detainees. The Council also called for guarantees of safe passage and support for the evacuation of ECOWAS and other international election observers.
Citing the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, the Council announced the immediate suspension of Guinea-Bissau from all ECOWAS decision-making organs “until the restoration of full and effective constitutional order in the country.”
President Bio has been mandated to lead a high-level mediation mission to Guinea-Bissau to engage the coup leaders and push for the swift restoration of democratic governance.
The Council said it would continue to monitor developments closely and reserved the right to invoke all sanctions available under ECOWAS instruments, including the 2001 Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance and the 2012 Supplementary Act on Sanctions, against any individuals or groups found culpable of derailing the electoral and democratic process.
