Nigeria’s Federal Government on Thursday issued a sharp condemnation of the military takeover in Guinea-Bissau, describing the incident as a significant threat to democracy and stability across the West African region.
The condemnation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs follows reports of heavy gunfire and the subsequent announcement by military officers in Bissau that they had assumed “total control” of the country, halting the electoral process just three days after general elections.
In a statement, the Ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, conveyed that the Nigerian government learned of the development “with profound dismay and deep concern,” calling the military action “an unconstitutional change of government.”
The statement explicitly denounced the action as a “blatant violation of the fundamental principles of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, which explicitly rejects any ascension to power through unconstitutional means.”
Nigeria, a key member of ECOWAS, insisted on the “immediate and unconditional restoration of constitutional order, the safety and security of all those detained and the full respect for the sanctity of democratic institutions in Guinea-Bissau.”
The government also issued a strong warning to the coup’s architects. “We warn that the perpetrators of this act will be held accountable for their actions, which threaten to plunge the nation into chaos and reverse the hard-won gains of its democracy,” the statement read.
Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to work closely with regional and international partners “to take all necessary measures to ensure the swift return to normalcy and constitutional governance in Guinea-Bissau.”
The political crisis erupted Wednesday after General Denis N’Canha, head of the presidential military office, announced that a command composed of all branches of the armed forces was seizing leadership. The military claimed they uncovered a plot by “national drug lords” to destabilize the nation.
Incumbent President Umaro Embalo, who was said to be detained by military forces, told French broadcaster France24 via phone call that “I have been deposed,” though he and his opposition rival had both claimed victory in the incomplete polls.
