The European Union Commission has joined the ECOWAS Authority and the African Union Commission to call for a swift return to the constitutional order and the resumption of the electoral process.
In a statement released by the Commission while reacting to the Guinea-Bissau’s military taken full control of the country after detaining President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, suspending the electoral process and closed all borders indefinitely.
EU stated that the vote count interrupted by the military intervention just before its consolidation should be allowed to proceed as planned and results of the presidential and legislative elections should be respected by all parties.
The Commission urged to abstain from all violent action and called to free all extrajudicially detained persons and to respect fundamental rights and freedoms.
Earlier, the African Union Commission has condemned the military coup d’État that took place in Guinea-Bissau on 26 November 2025.
This resulted to the arrest of the country’s President, Umaro Sissoco Embaló, senior officials, and political leaders, at a moment when the nation was on the verge of announcing its electoral results.
AU Chairperson, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, who in a statement reiterates the African Union’s zero tolerance for, firm rejection of, any unconstitutional change of government, in accordance with the Union’s core norma- tive instruments.
Which includes the Constitutive Act of the African Union (2000), the Lomé Declaration on Unconstitutional Changes of Government (2000), the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (2007), and the Ezulwini Framework (2009).
He noted the Joint Statement on the Post-Election Situation issued on 26 November 2025 by the Heads of the African Union Election Observation Mission, ECOWAS Election Observation Mission, and the West African Elders Forum.
The Chairperson stressed the imperative of respecting the ongoing electoral process and upholding constitutional order, in line with the mandate of the National Electoral Commission (CNE), the sole institution legally empowered to proclaim official election results in the country.
Ali Youssouf called for the immediate and unconditional release of President Embaló and all de- tained officials, and urges all parties to exercise the utmost restraint in order to prevent any further deterioration of the situation.
He reaffirmed the African Union’s readiness, working in close coordination with ECOWAS and other key international partners, to support all efforts aimed at restoring stability and safeguarding democratic processes through dialogue and legally grounded mecha- nisms.In conclusion, the Chairperson reiterated African Union’s steadfast support and solidarity with people of Guinea-Bissau during this critical period, and its commitment to ac- companying them on the path toward peace, stability, and democratic consolidation.
Also, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) condemned the military coup d’état carried out in Guinea-Bissau on 26 November 2025, just three days after citizens turned out in large numbers for presidential and parliamentary elections.
In an extraordinary virtual session of the Mediation and Security Council held at the level of Heads of State Government, chaired by Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio (current ECOWAS Authority Chair).The regional leaders expressed “deep concern” over the escalating political crisis and rejected any attempt to subvert the democratic process.
The Council demanded the “unconditional restoration of constitutional order without delay”.
While called on the coup leaders to respect the will of the people by allowing the National Electoral Commission to announce the results of the 23 November elections immediately and without interference.In a strongly worded communiqué, ECOWAS further demanded “immediate and unconditional release” of detained officials, including President Sissoco Embaló, members of the electoral commission, and other political figures.
The meeting was attended by the presidents of Cabo Verde, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, and Sierra Leone, as well as high-level representatives from Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, and Togo.
Also present were the President of the ECOWAS Commission, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, and the UN Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel.
ECOWAS warned that it rejects any arrangement that perpetuates the “illegal abortion of the democratic process” in Guinea-Bissau.
