ECOWAS suspends Guinea-Bissau from all activities and calls for the release of detained leaders after the military coup on 26 November 2025
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has suspended Guinea-Bissau from all regional activities following the military coup on 26 November 2025, pending the restoration of full constitutional order.
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The decision was announced at the conclusion of an emergency meeting of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council (MSC), attended by heads of state and government from all member countries.
ECOWAS condemned the coup in the strongest terms and called for the immediate release of all civilian leaders detained by the military, including President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, and urged guarantees for the safety of citizens and international observers.
The MSC communiqué emphasised the need to respect the will of the people and to allow the National Electoral Commission to complete the announcement of the results from the 23 November presidential and parliamentary elections.
As part of the response, ECOWAS has established a High-Level Mediation Mission led by Julius Maada Bio, Chair of the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government and President of Sierra Leone, alongside Faure Gnassingbé of Togo, Jose Maria Pereira Neves of Cabo Verde, and Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal.
The mission will engage with coup leaders to ensure the restoration of constitutional governance.
The MSC instructed Guinea-Bissau’s armed forces to return to barracks and maintain their constitutional role while the ECOWAS Stabilization Support Mission in Guinea-Bissau (ESSMGB) continues to safeguard national institutions.
The regional bloc reserved the right to implement sanctions under the 2001 ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance and the 2012 Supplementary Act on Sanctions against individuals and entities obstructing the democratic process.
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ECOWAS reiterated that all leaders responsible for the coup bear accountability for the protection of citizens and the safety of detainees, and urged cooperation to allow safe passage for election observers and humanitarian actors.
