The federal government has condemned the military coup in Guinea-Bissau, calling for the immediate restoration of constitutional order in the West African nation.
In a statement released Thursday morning, the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the military takeover as “unfortunate” and expressed deep concern over the disruption of the country’s democratic process.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria, in the strongest possible terms, condemns this act of military insurrection which undermines the democratic progress, constitutional order, and stability not only of Guinea-Bissau but of the entire West African sub-region,” said ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa.
The statement added that the coup represents a “blatant violation of the fundamental principles of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, which explicitly rejects any ascension to power through unconstitutional means.”
Nigeria affirmed its solidarity with the people of Guinea-Bissau and called for “the immediate and unconditional restoration of constitutional order, the safety and security of all those detained, and full respect for the sanctity of democratic institutions.”
The ministry urged all parties to exercise restraint, engage in peaceful dialogue, and respect the will of the electorate in the recently conducted elections. “We warn that those behind this act will be held accountable for their actions, which threaten to plunge the nation into chaos and reverse the hard-won gains of its democracy,” the statement read.
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Nigeria also pledged to work with regional and international partners to ensure a swift return to normalcy and democratic governance.
The military takeover occurred on Wednesday, just three days after Guinea-Bissau’s legislative and presidential elections, with incumbent President Umaro Embalo, widely expected to win, detained by the armed forces.
General Denis N’Canha, head of the presidential military office, announced that a command “composed of all branches of the armed forces, was taking over the leadership of the country until further notice.” The coup also saw the suspension of the electoral process and closure of the country’s borders.
Election observers from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU) have joined Nigeria in condemning the coup.
“We deplore this blatant attempt to disrupt the democratic process and the gains that have been achieved thus far,” they said in a joint statement, urging both organizations to take “necessary steps to restore constitutional order.”