The African Union Commission Chairperson, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, has strongly condemned the military coup d’état in Guinea-Bissau on Wednesday that overthrew the legitimate government and resulted into the arrest of President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and several senior government officials.
In a statement issued from Addis Ababa, the Chairperson described the coup as an unacceptable and unconstitutional seizure of power especially occurring at the critical moment when the country was awaiting the announcement of its electoral results.
The AU reiterated its zero-tolerance policy toward any unconstitutional change of government, citing key continental instruments such as the Constitutive Act of the African Union, the Lomé Declaration, the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, and the Ezulwini Framework all of which reject military takeovers and call for strict adherence to democratic protocols.
The Commission also acknowledged a Joint Statement released on the same day by regional bodies, including the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission, the AU Election Observation Mission, and the West African Elders Forum which expressed concern about the unfolding post-election situation in the country.
Chairperson Youssouf emphasized the need to respect the ongoing electoral process and preserve constitutional order, noting that Guinea-Bissau’s National Electoral Commission remains the only institution legally mandated to announce official election results. On the same note,The AU called for the immediate and unconditional release of President Embaló and all detained officials, urged all actors involved to exercise maximum restraint to prevent further deterioration of the political and security situation and affirmed its readiness together with ECOWAS and other international partners to support efforts aimed at restoring stability, safeguarding democratic institutions, and encouraging national dialogue.
In conclusion,This latest coup in Guinea-Bissau adds to a wave of unconstitutional power seizures in West Africa over the past few years including but not limited to Mali in August 2020 and again in May 2021,Guinea Cornakry in September 2021 and Niger in July 2023.
