Accra: A high-level delegation from the West African regional bloc known as ECOWAS ended a mediation mission to Guinea-Bissau on Monday with no breakthrough, but pledged to continue talks with coup leaders later this month.
According to Nam News Network, the delegation, led by Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio, traveled to Bissau in a bid to restore civilian rule following the recent military coup. The junta has banned protests and strikes, citing the need to restore security and stability in the nation. Sierra Leone’s Foreign Minister Timothy Musa Kabba, speaking on behalf of President Bio, stated that the discussions were “very fruitful.”
The chair of the authority condemned the coup and urged for the immediate restoration of constitutional order, including the completion of the electoral process. ECOWAS has called for the reinstatement of President Umaro Sissoco Embal³, who fled to Brazzaville after being detained. In his absence, the military installed former army chief Gen. Horta Inta-a as head of a transitional government, which has already appointed a new cabinet, predominantly consisting of allies of the ousted president.
Foreign Minister Joo Bernardo Vieira, appointed by the junta, expressed that ECOWAS would remain engaged in finding a solution to return to constitutional order. He mentioned a one-year deadline for the end of the transition, with the issue set to be discussed at the ECOWAS Conference of Heads of State and Government on December 14. The outcome of this conference will determine the next steps.
ECOWAS has suspended Guinea-Bissau from its decision-making bodies pending a return to civilian rule. The United Nations has also condemned the coup, with Secretary-General Ant³nio Guterres demanding the unconditional release of all detained political actors and emphasizing the need to respect the will of the people as expressed in the November 23 vote. The military took control as the country awaited the results of the recent presidential election.