By MARK LONGYEN

ECOWAS and African Union Election Observation Missions to Guinea-Bissau, as well as the West African Elders Forum have condemned Wednesday’s military coup d’etat in the country.

This is contained in a joint statement issued by the election monitoring mission leaders, and the elders forum, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

NAN reports that the statement is signed by the former Mozambique President and Head of AU Monitoring Mission, Filipe Nyusi.

Other signatories include former Nigerian President and Head of the West African Elders Forum, Goodluck Jonathan; and Head of ECOWAS Monitoring Mission, Issifu Kamara.

We, the Heads of the African Union Election Observation Mission (AUEOM), the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission (EOM), and the West African Elders Forum note the orderly and peaceful conclusion of the voting process for the presidential and legislative elections held on 23 November 2025 in the Republic of Guinea-Bissau.

“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, throughout the voting process.

“In spite of these encouraging developments, we express deep concern with the announcement of a coup d’etat by the armed forces, while the nation was waiting for the announcement of the results,” the statement said.

It expressed the missions’ leaders regret that the coup came when they had just concluded meetings with the two leading presidential candidates, who assured them of their willingness to accept the people’s will.

The missions’ leaders deplored the attempt to disrupt the democratic process and the gains that have been achieved thus far, and urged the AU and ECOWAS to take necessary steps to restore constitutional order.

They expressed concern over the arrest of top officials, including those in charge of the electoral process, and urged the armed forces to immediately release the detained officials to allow the country’s electoral process to proceed to its conclusion.

“We call on the people of Guinea-Bissau to remain calm, and reaffirm our commitment to supporting the country on its democratic path.

“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 statement quoted the missions’ leaders as saying.

NAN reports that Guinea-Bissau’s military officers on Wednesday declared “taking over total control” of the country’s leadership, days after a contentious presidential and legislative election.

According to local media reports, Guinea-Bissau’s President, Umaro Embalo, has been arrested and is being held at general-staff headquarters.

The military also suspended the electoral process in Guinea-Bissau, in which Embalo was favoured to win a second term in the presidential election held over the weekend.

Main opposition figures, Fernando da Costa and Domingos Pereira, who both claimed victory in the election, alongside Pereira, the unsuccessful candidate in 2019, are reportedly being held at the Bissau Air Base.(NAN)