President Bio Chairs Virtual ECOWAS Summit on Guinea-Bissau Coup

Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio, in his capacity as Chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, chaired a virtual Extraordinary Summit to address the political crisis in Guinea-Bissau. The meeting brought together West African leaders to respond to the recent military coup.

During the summit, President Bio condemned the unlawful detention of President Umaro Sissoko-Embalo and electoral officials, stating that the actions violate ECOWAS Treaty principles. He emphasized that the organization’s response will be firm, principled, and consistent with its commitment to peace, democracy, and regional stability.

Discussions focused on coordinated regional measures to restore constitutional order, including diplomatic engagement, sanctions, and mediation efforts. Leaders stressed the urgency of swift action to protect democratic governance and prevent further destabilization.

The summit follows reports that soldiers in Guinea-Bissau detained President Embaló, closed borders, and exchanged gunfire near the presidential palace in the aftermath of recent elections, raising fears of escalating unrest.

President Bio reaffirmed ECOWAS’ commitment to collective action, highlighting that all member states share a responsibility to safeguard peace, stability, and democracy in Guinea-Bissau and across West Africa.