The African Union (AU) has suspended Guinea-Bissau from its decision-making bodies in the wake of a military coup that ousted President Umaro Embalo.
The decision was announced on Friday, hours after the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) took similar action against the West African nation.
AU Chairman Mahamoud Youssouf confirmed the suspension, stating that it would remain in effect until constitutional order is fully restored in the country.
ECOWAS’ Mediation and Security Council (MSC) made its suspension official following an emergency virtual meeting chaired by Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio.
According to the council, Guinea-Bissau will be barred from all ECOWAS decision-making bodies until democratic governance is reinstated.
The military seized power on Wednesday, just three days after disputed presidential and legislative elections.
Following the takeover, the officers halted the announcement of election results, suspended the electoral process, and closed the country’s borders.
General Horta N’Tam, the army chief of staff, was appointed as Guinea-Bissau’s transitional leader for a one-year period.
President Embalo initially faced arrest but fled to Senegal on Thursday.
Opposition presidential candidate Fernando Dias, who claims victory in the elections, said he is “safe” and in hiding.
The coup has drawn widespread condemnation. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described it as an “unacceptable violation of democratic principles.”
Guinea-Bissau, which gained independence from Portugal in 1974, has experienced four coups and numerous attempted takeovers since then.
The country, one of the poorest in the world, is also known as a hub for drug trafficking between Latin America and Europe, a trade facilitated by its longstanding political instability.
Guinea-Bissau joins a growing list of African countries suspended by the AU after military takeovers, including Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Sudan, and Madagascar.
In contrast, sanctions against Gabon were lifted in April 2025 following the restoration of civilian governance after the overthrow of President Ali Bongo.
The AU and ECOWAS suspensions signal the regional bodies’ commitment to uphold democratic norms and press for a return to constitutional rule in Guinea-Bissau.
