AU, ECOWAS fault Guinea-Bissau coup, say candidates pledged to respect results

Observation missions from the African Union (AU), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the West African Elders Forum (WAEF), have described the coup in Guinea-Bissau as “regrettable”.

The country was awaiting the announcement of election results when the putschists struck.

Presidential elections in the country were held on Sunday.

Though President Umaro Embaló, who is seeking re-election, and Fernando Dias, his main opponent, both declared victory before the official results announcement, the observation missions said both candidates assured of their willingness to accept the will of the people.

In a joint statement on Wednesday, the missions said the coup came immediately after a meeting in which both candidates made the pledge.

The statement was signed by Filipe Nyusi, head of the AU mission and former Mozambique president; Issifu Kamara, head of the ECOWAS mission; and former President Goodluck Jonathan, WAEF head.

All leaders are currently stranded in Guinea-Bissau following the coup.

“We deplore this blatant attempt to disrupt the democratic process and the gains that have been achieved thus far,” the statement said.

After the military officers announced a takeover, Embaló said he was arrested in his office at the presidential palace.

Biaguê Na Ntan, armed forces’ chief of staff; Botché Candé, interior minister; and Mamadu Ture, deputy chief of staff, were also arrested.

The AU-EU-WAEF team urged the armed forces to immediately release the detained officials to allow the country’s electoral process to proceed to its conclusion.

The electoral commission was scheduled to announce results on Thursday.