ECOWAS denounces army seizure of power in Guinea-Bissau
In a joint statement, the observer groups said, “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. It is regrettable that this announcement came at the time when the missions had just concluded meeting with the two leading presidential candidates, who assured us of their willingness to accept the will of the people.”
As stated by reports, a faction of military officers calling themselves the "High Military Command for the Restoration of National Security and Public Order" declared that they "assumed full powers of the state" during an address broadcast on national television.
Following the takeover, the military shut down media operations, stopped the election process, sealed the nation’s borders, and enforced a nine-hour nighttime curfew starting at 9 p.m. local time (2100GMT), according to available accounts.
The heads of the observer missions called on regional bodies to intervene and ensure a return to constitutional governance. Their statement emphasized, “We deplore the blatant attempt to disrupt the democratic process and the gains that have been achieved that far.”
They also expressed alarm over reports that several officials, including those responsible for overseeing the vote, had been detained. The observers stated, “In this regard, we urge the armed forces to immediately release the detained officials to allow the country’s electoral process to proceed to its conclusion.”
Before the coup, the missions had praised the population of Guinea-Bissau for its strong participation in the polls, noting that voting unfolded in an orderly and peaceful manner.
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