What You Need to Know
Two weeks after a military coup disrupted the electoral process in Guinea-Bissau, opposition figures in exile have urged ECOWAS to take decisive action. They demand recognition of the election winner and the reinstatement of constitutional order, emphasizing the need for a unified response to prevent further instability in the region.
Africa. After two weeks since the military coup that disrupted the electoral process in Guinea-Bissau on November 26, political opposition figures in exile met in Dakar, Senegal, alongside civil society representatives, to urgently call on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The attendees urged the regional organization to demonstrate the same firmness at the extraordinary summit scheduled for Sunday, December 14, as it recently did in response to a coup attempt in Benin.
Opposition leader Dara Fonseca Fernandes called on ECOWAS leaders to issue a clear decision to restore constitutional order by recognizing the victory of Fernando Dias da Costa and reinstating the coup leaders to their barracks without military intervention.
Senegalese civil society organizations emphasized the need for ECOWAS to confront the Guinea-Bissau coup with the same rigor it showed in Benin, warning that double standards would undermine the organization’s credibility.
Although armed individuals destroyed some election records during the coup, the opposition asserts that alternative copies are still available in the regions and can be relied upon to announce the final results.
These organizations believe that this step will lay the groundwork for restoring constitutional legitimacy and prevent the coup plotters from consolidating their power.
A Test for ECOWAS’s Credibility
The extraordinary summit scheduled for December 14 appears to be a critical moment for ECOWAS, as it will determine whether the organization can enforce unified standards in the face of recurring coups in the region or if it will face accusations of selectivity and leniency.
As the public in Guinea-Bissau awaits the outcome of the crisis, the pressing question remains: Will ECOWAS succeed in returning the country to a democratic path, or will it leave it at the mercy of military rule?
Guinea-Bissau has faced a tumultuous political history marked by coups and instability since its independence in 1973. The recent military coup on November 26, which interrupted the electoral process, has raised concerns about the country’s democratic future and the role of regional organizations like ECOWAS in maintaining stability in West Africa.
ECOWAS has previously intervened in similar situations, demonstrating a commitment to uphold democratic governance in the region. The upcoming extraordinary summit on December 14 will be critical in determining how effectively ECOWAS can respond to the challenges posed by the coup and restore constitutional order in Guinea-Bissau.
