West Africa Says No to Guinea-Bissau's Military Takeover

In a strong move, West African leaders have turned down Guinea-Bissau's military plan. They demand the country return to normal government rules swiftly. If the military refuses, punishments could follow.

Military Takeover in Guinea-Bissau

The military seized control on November 26, removing the president and installing a general. This marks the ninth such incident in West and Central Africa in just five years. The region is already grappling with safety and political instability.

ECOWAS Demands

At a high-level meeting in Abuja, leaders from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) issued key demands:

• Release all political prisoners
• Restore democracy quickly and fairly

ECOWAS recognizes the November 23 elections as fair and has no issue with the results. However, they strongly oppose the military takeover and plan to send a delegation to engage with the military leaders.

Potential Consequences

If the military fails to comply, ECOWAS may impose sanctions on those responsible. They also seek support from other African nations and international allies.