ECOWAS Suspends Guinea-Bissau Membership Following Military Coup

ECOWAS suspended Guinea-Bissau’s membership hours after an army general seized power and was sworn in as president. The bloc condemned the coup as an “illegal abortion of the democratic process” during a virtual meeting of its Mediation and Security Council, attended by leaders from several West African countries. The African Union has also denounced the takeover, which occurred amid vote counting in a tense presidential election. West Africa has faced at least six coups since 2020, raising regional stability concerns.

West Africa’s regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), took the significant step of suspending Guinea-Bissau’s membership just hours after an army general was sworn in as the country’s president. The decision was made during a virtual session of ECOWAS’ Mediation and Security Council (MSC), which was chaired by Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio on Thursday night. The council session included leaders and representatives from several member states, including Cabo Verde, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, and Benin, among others, highlighting the regional concern over the unfolding crisis.

During the meeting, ECOWAS strongly condemned the military takeover, calling it an “illegal abortion of the democratic process” and emphasizing that it represented an attempt to subvert the will of the people. The coup came at a critical moment, as Guinea-Bissau was in the process of counting votes following a tense and high-stakes presidential election. The sudden seizure of power by the army has thrown the nation into political uncertainty and raised fears of destabilization across the region.

The African Union has also voiced its condemnation of the coup and was expected to follow with its own suspension of Guinea-Bissau’s membership in the continental body. Both ECOWAS and the African Union have reiterated their commitment to democratic governance and constitutional order, warning that they may take additional measures if the situation is not resolved promptly.

West Africa has been increasingly unsettled by military interventions in recent years. Since 2020, the region has experienced at least six coups, reflecting a troubling pattern of army officers undermining elected governments. These repeated disruptions have heightened concerns about stability, governance, and security in the region, prompting regional organizations and international partners to closely monitor developments in Guinea-Bissau.

ECOWAS emphasized the importance of restoring democratic processes and ensuring that the popular will, expressed through the electoral system, is respected. The bloc’s swift suspension of Guinea-Bissau underscores its zero-tolerance approach to unconstitutional changes of government and its determination to protect democracy and peace across West Africa.