The Extraordinary Session of the Mediation and Security Council of ECOWAS at the level of Heads of State and Government has suspended Guinea Bissau from all ECOWAS decision-making bodies until
the restoration of full and effective constitutional order in the country.
This followed the coup d'etat in the country on Thursday.
The MSC called for the immediate and unconditional release of all detained officials, in particular President Umaro Sissoco Embalo as well as the electoral officials and all other political figures, including the safe evacuation of ECOWAS and all other international election observers.
These decisions were taken when the ECOWAS MSC Under the Chairmanship of H.E. Julius Maada BIO, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone and chairperson of the Authority of ECOWAS
Heads of State and Government, met virtually at the level of Heads of State and Government on Thursday to review the situation in the Republic of Guinea Bissau, urging the Armed forces of Guinea Bissau to return to the barracksand to maintain their constitutional role.
In a Communique made available to journalists on Friday, the MSC also mandated the Chair of the Authority to lead a High-Level Mediation Mission made up of President of the Council of Togo, His Excellency Faure Gnassingbe;
President of Cabo Verde, His Excellency Jose Maria Pereira Neves; and President of Senegal, His Excellency Bassirou Diomaye Faye, accompanied by the President of Commission to Guinea Bissau to engage the leaders of the coup with a view to ensuring the full restoration of constitutional order.
"The MSC holds the leaders of the coup both individually and collectively responsible for the protection of life and property of all citizens and residents of Guinea Bissau and for the security and safety of all detainees.
"The MSC calls on the leaders of the coup to guarantee the safety and facilitate the evacuation and safe passage of ECOWAS and all other international election observers."
The Communique reads in parts; "The MSC orders the ECOWAS Stabilization Support Mission in Guinea Bissau (ESSMGB) to continue to help protect the institutions of GuineaBissau.
"The MSC decides to remain seized of the situation in Guinea Bissau and reserves the right to use all options provided for by the 2001 ECOWASSupplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance and the2012 Supplementary Act on Sanctions, including sanctions on all entities deemed culpable of disrupting the electoral and democratic process in Guinea Bissau."