AU, ECOWAS Condemn Guinea-Bissau Coup as Military Seizes Power After Elections

The African Union and the Economic Community of West African States have strongly condemned the military coup in Guinea-Bissau, warning that the takeover threatens to derail the country’s democratic transition following the November 23 presidential and legislative elections.

In a joint statement issued on Wednesday in Bissau, the heads of three major observer missions — Filipe Nyusi, former president of Mozambique and head of the AU Election Observation Mission; Issifu Kamara, head of the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission; and former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, who leads the West African Elders Forum — said the polls were conducted “orderly and peacefully,” commending citizens for their commitment to democracy.

“We commend the people of Guinea-Bissau for their strong civic engagement, as well as the professionalism demonstrated by polling staff, security personnel, presidential candidates, and party agents,” the observers said.

However, the missions expressed alarm after the armed forces abruptly announced a takeover while the nation awaited official results.

“Despite these encouraging developments, we express deep concern with the announcement of a coup d’état by the armed forces, while the nation was waiting for the announcement of the results,” the statement read.
The observers said the coup announcement came shortly after they had met with the two leading presidential candidates, both of whom had pledged to respect the outcome of the vote.

The missions condemned what they described as a blatant attempt to upend the electoral process.
“We deplore this blatant attempt to disrupt the democratic process and the gains achieved thus far,” they said, calling on the AU and ECOWAS to take urgent steps to restore constitutional order.

They also raised concerns about reports of the arrest of senior officials responsible for managing the elections, urging the military to release the detained individuals and allow the electoral process to proceed.

The observers appealed for calm among citizens during what they described as a critical moment, stressing the need to preserve peace, stability and the well-being of the Bissau-Guinean people.

Guinea-Bissau descended into chaos on Wednesday after military officers declared “total control’’ of the country, shut its borders and suspended the electoral process just three days after the general elections. Heavy gunfire was reported near the presidential palace, with armed troops blocking major roads.

General Denis N’Canha, head of the presidential military office, announced that a command “composed of all branches of the armed forces” had taken over leadership of the country “until further notice.”

Incumbent President Umaro Embalo, considered a frontrunner in the polls, was said to be inside a building behind military headquarters with senior officials, though it remained unclear whether he had been detained. Both Embalo and opposition candidate Fernando Dias had already claimed victory, with provisional results expected Thursday.

The coup adds to Guinea-Bissau’s long history of instability. The West African nation has recorded four successful coups and several failed attempts since independence. N’Canha alleged that the military takeover followed the discovery of a plot involving “national drug lords” and imported weapons aimed at altering the constitutional order.

Following the takeover, the armed forces suspended media programming, declared a curfew and halted all electoral activities. The National Electoral Commission later reported being attacked by unidentified armed men.

More than 6,700 security personnel, including ECOWAS Stabilisation Force members, had been deployed for the elections amid heightened tension. The 2025 polls were also marked by the exclusion of the PAIGC party and its leader, Domingos Simoes Pereira, after the Supreme Court ruled their submissions late — a decision the opposition criticised as political manoeuvring.

Embalo has ruled by decree since dissolving the opposition-dominated legislature in 2023, and critics argue his mandate expired on February 27, deepening political mistrust ahead of the polls.