ECOWAS Delegation Confronts Guinea-Bissau Junta Over ‘Sham’ Coup and Election Results Crisis
BISSAU, GUINEA-BISSAU — December 2, 2025
ECOWAS Delegation Confronts Guinea-Bissau Junta: Regional Body Pressures Military Leaders for Immediate Restoration of Constitutional Order Following ‘Sham’ Coup
The capital of Guinea-Bissau, Bissau, was the scene of intense diplomatic maneuvering today as a high-level delegation from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) arrived to confront the country’s military junta and press for the immediate restoration of constitutional order following last week’s “sham” coup.
The military rulers, who seized power after disrupting the presidential election results announcement, responded to the regional pressure by tightening their grip, issuing a decree banning all protests, strikes, and activities deemed a “threat to peace and stability.”
This confrontation sets the stage for a critical regional decision as ECOWAS grapples with yet another democratic reversal in West Africa.
The mediation team—composed of the presidents of Togo, Cape Verde, and Senegal, along with the ECOWAS Commission president, and led by the current ECOWAS Chairman, President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone—arrived with the unequivocal demand for the military authorities to step aside.
Their central objective is the publication of the disputed presidential election returns and the immediate resumption of democratic procedures.
The stakes are immense, not only for the stability of Guinea-Bissau—a nation historically plagued by political instability—but for the credibility of the regional bloc itself, which has been severely challenged by a recent wave of military takeovers.
As the diplomatic talks commence, hundreds of youths who protested in Bissau over the weekend demanding the release of detained opposition leaders now face a military command intent on quashing dissent under the threat of force.
Headline Points
High-Level Mediation:
An ECOWAS delegation, led by the President of Sierra Leone, arrived in Bissau to initiate critical talks with the military rulers.
Junta Tightens Grip:
In anticipation of the delegation’s visit, the military authorities banned all public protests and strikes, ordering government institutions to resume operations.
Focus on Election Results:
lol The central demand from ECOWAS is the immediate publication of the contested presidential election results and the full restoration of democratic governance.
Nigeria Offers Asylum:
Nigeria granted asylum and protection to opposition presidential candidate Fernando Dias da Costa at its embassy in Bissau, citing an “immediate threat to his life.”
Sanctions Threat:
ECOWAS continues to threaten the imposition of targeted sanctions on individuals and groups responsible for disrupting the electoral and democratic process.
The Military’s Narrative and Counter-Measures
The military officers, who installed Major-General Horta Inta-a as interim president, have sought to justify their seizure of power with a highly contentious claim.
They argue the coup was necessary to preempt a plot by “narcotraffickers” to “capture Guinean democracy.”
This narrative, which ties the political crisis to the nation’s pervasive drug trafficking issues, is viewed with skepticism by regional and international observers who see the action as a naked power grab following a closely contested, yet unreleased, election result.
In a move aimed at projecting a façade of normalcy, the military rulers ordered all public institutions, ministries, and state secretariats to reopen and resume operations immediately.
However, the accompanying ban on protests and strikes—which were necessary to secure public order ahead of the ECOWAS visit—serves as a clear indication that the junta intends to enforce its authority through intimidation.
This restrictive environment further complicates the ECOWAS delegation’s mission, as it limits the ability of civil society and democratic voices to exert pressure on the military authorities.
Regional Support and Safety Concerns
The regional crisis was heightened by the intervention of Nigeria, a regional heavyweight, which declared its readiness to offer protection to opposition presidential candidate Fernando Dias da Costa.
The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that President Bola Tinubu approved the request for Dias da Costa’s protection at the Nigerian embassy in Bissau, citing an “immediate threat to his life.”
Nigeria has also appealed to the ECOWAS stabilization forces to deploy additional units to ensure the safety of the opposition politician.
The candidate, who, along with the incumbent, claimed victory before provisional results were due, is now a flashpoint in the regional standoff, symbolizing the disputed nature of the election that precipitated the coup.
Sierra Leone’s Foreign Minister Timothy Musa Kabba, speaking on behalf of ECOWAS, stressed that the final decision on further actions—including potential sanctions—would be made by the ECOWAS Heads of State on December 14th, following the report from the current mediation mission.
The visit itself, however, has already achieved one critical aim: forcing the transitional authorities and the military into direct discussion with the regional bloc.
The UK and London’s Focus on Stability
London, UK, CJ Global Newspaper:
The escalating crisis in Guinea-Bissau and the critical ECOWAS intervention are being monitored closely in London, UK, where the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) views the situation as a serious threat to stability in West Africa.
London has consistently supported ECOWAS’s efforts to uphold democratic norms, particularly in a region facing increasing jihadist threats and democratic backsliding.
The UK has a strong interest in regional stability due to its commitment to international counter-narcotics efforts, which often intersect with political instability in coastal West African nations like Guinea-Bissau. The junta’s reference to “narcotraffickers” underscores this complex threat.
British analysts in London are stressing the need for the international community to back ECOWAS’s firm stance.
A failure to quickly reverse the coup could normalize military takeovers and further destabilize the broader sub-region, impacting global trade and security interests.
The UK is expected to coordinate with its European and North American allies on potential targeted sanctions, ensuring that financial and travel restrictions are placed upon the military officials responsible for seizing power, thereby strengthening the hand of the ECOWAS mediators.
