The African Union (AU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the West African Elders Forum have jointly condemned the military takeover in Guinea-Bissau, which abruptly halted the announcement of presidential and legislative election results.
In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, the election observation missions deployed to the West African country denounced the military action as “a blatant attempt to disrupt the democratic process” in Guinea-Bissau.
The statement was signed by the Head of the AU Election Observation Mission, Filipe Nyusi; the Head of the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission, Issifu Kamara; and the Head of the West African Elders Forum, Goodluck Jonathan.
The missions expressed alarm over the military’s intervention while the nation was awaiting the final results of Saturday’s polls, where both the current president, Umaro Embalo, and opposition candidate, Fernando Dias, had declared victory.
“We express deep concern with the announcement of coup d’etat by the armed forces, while the nation was waiting for the announcement of the results,” the statement read.
The condemnation noted that the coup announcement came shortly after observers had met with the frontrunners: “It is regrettable that this announcement came at a time when the missions had just concluded meeting with the two leading presidential candidates, who assured us of their willingness to accept the will of the people.”
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The joint missions were unequivocal in their rejection of the military’s action: “We deplore this blatant attempt to disrupt the democratic process and the gains that we have achieved thus far. We request the African Union and the ECOWAS to take the necessary steps to restore constitutional order.”
The military officers, following heavy gunfire near the presidential palace, had announced on Wednesday that they were taking “total control of the country, suspending its electoral process and closing its borders.”
General Denis N’Canha, the head of the presidential military office, confirmed the takeover in the early afternoon, telling members of the press that a command “composed of all branches of the armed forces, was taking over the leadership of the country until further notice.” He made the declaration seated at a table and surrounded by armed soldiers.
N’Canha claimed the military had uncovered a destabilization plan “involving national drug lords” that had included “the introduction of weapons into the country to alter the constitutional order.” In addition to halting “the entire electoral process,” N’Canha declared that military forces had suspended “all media programming” and imposed a mandatory curfew.
The AU and ECOWAS missions also voiced serious concern over the detention of state officials, particularly those involved in running the election.
“We express concern about the arrests of top officials, including those who are in charge of the electoral process. In this regard, we urge the armed forces to immediately release the detained officials to allow the country’s electoral process to proceed to its conclusion,” the statement read.
They concluded by calling for calm and reaffirming their democratic commitment: “We call on the people of Guinea-Bissau to remain calm, and we affirm our commitment to supporting the country on its democratic path, and in this respect, we underscore the importance of preserving peace, stability, and the well-being of the Bissau Guinean people during this sensitive period.”
The military takeover marks another chapter of instability for the West African nation, which has experienced four successful coups since independence, along with multiple attempted coups.
