Nigeria has called for the immediate and unconditional restoration of constitutional order in Guinea-Bissau, after the military in the West African state announced a takeover of power.
The Guinea-Bissau Army announced on Wednesday, November 26, that it has taken “total control,” with the President, Umaro Sissoco Embaló, arrested.
Reacting to the news of the coup, the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the “coup d’état 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.”
Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, spokesperson of the Ministry, in a statement issued in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Thursday, November 27, said the government of Nigeria stands in solidarity with the people of Guinea-Bissau and called for the safety and security of all those detained and the full respect for the sanctity of democratic institutions in Guinea-Bissau.
The Nigerian government further called on the authorities in Guinea-Bissau to ensure and guarantee the safety of all election observers still in the country on official assignment.
“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.
“Nigeria, as a key member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union, will work closely with our regional and international partners to take all necessary measures to ensure the swift return to normalcy and constitutional governance in Guinea-Bissau. We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the promotion of democracy, peace, and stability across the African continent,” the statement noted.
