Antonio Guterres

The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has expressed strong concern over the political unrest unfolding in Guinea-Bissau, issuing a firm call for the military to restore democratic rule without delay.

Guterres noted that the military’s intervention undermines the rights of citizens who recently participated in national polls.

In a statement on Friday, Guterres said, “I am deeply concerned by the unfolding events in Guinea-Bissau.”

He denounced the actions of military actors involved in the power grab, stating, “I strongly condemn the coup d’état perpetrated by elements of the military & any attempt to violate constitutional order.”

“Any disregard of the will of the people who peacefully cast their vote during the 23 November general elections constitutes an unacceptable violation of democratic principles.”

He called for a swift return to civilian leadership and the release of detained government officials. “I call for the immediate & unconditional restoration of constitutional order & the release of all detained officials.”

Reaffirming the UN’s position, he added, “I reaffirm the full support of the @UN for safeguarding democracy, promoting stability, and assisting Guinea-Bissau in concluding the electoral process peacefully and swiftly returning to its democratic path.”

Earlier, SaharaReporters reported that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) announced the suspension of Guinea-Bissau from all ECOWAS decision-making bodies following Wednesday’s military coup and takeover of government.

The West African bloc, in a communique issued on Thursday, demanded the immediate restoration of constitutional order and threatened sanctions against the junta regime.

The resolution followed an Extraordinary Virtual Session of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council (MSC) at the level of Heads of State and Government.

The session was chaired by Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio, who is also Chairperson of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government.

The high-level meeting, convened to review the escalating political crisis in Guinea-Bissau, brought together regional presidents, foreign ministers, and representatives from the African Union and the United Nations.

Those in attendance included Cabo Verde’s President José Maria Pereira Neves; Ghana’s President John Mahama; Liberia’s President Joseph N. Boakai; Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye; Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio; and Côte d’Ivoire’s Vice President Tiemoko Meyliet Koné.

Invoking the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, the MSC announced the suspension of Guinea-Bissau from all ECOWAS decision-making bodies pending the “full and effective restoration of constitutional order.”

To drive the negotiation process, the MSC mandated ECOWAS Chair Julius Maada Bio to lead a High-Level Mediation Mission to Bissau.

The delegation includes Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbé, Cabo Verde’s President José Maria Neves, Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, and the ECOWAS Commission President.

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