African statesmen, CSOs leaders urge ECOWAS to ensure release of Guinea-Bissau election results

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(FILES) (FILES) Flags of Economic Community of West African States Commission (ECOWAS) countries are displayed inside the Nigeria presidential villa, after the extraordinary session of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Heads of State and Government in Abuja, Nigeria on February 24, 2024. The withdrawal of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso from the Economic Community of West African States takes effect on Wednesday after a year of political tensions, fracturing the region and leaving the bloc with an uncertain future. On January 29, 2024, the three countries led by military regimes formally notified ECOWAS of their desire for "immediate" withdrawal. But the texts of the West African organisation required one-year's notice for it to be effective. (Photo by Kola Sulaimon / AFP)

A coalition of 20 prominent African statesmen, academics, civil society leaders, and former senior ECOWAS officials has called for the immediate release of Guinea-Bissau’s 23 November presidential and legislative election results.

They warned that the country’s fragile democracy is at risk following military interference in the electoral process.

In a joint statement titled “Restoring Constitutional Order and the Rule of Law in Guinea-Bissau,” the group urged ECOWAS to take decisive action.

Notable signatories include former Cabo Verdean President Pedro Pires, ex-Foreign Minister José Brito, former ECOWAS Executive Secretary Dr. Abass Bundu, human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), and 16 other figures from academia, media, diplomacy, and civil society.

The group also demanded for transparency, protection of the electoral winner, and the release of political actors detained by the military junta.

The statement highlighted that the National Electoral Commission (CNE) admitted it could not continue compiling results due to pressure from security forces.

According to the coalition, the military stormed the CNE headquarters, destroyed or confiscated electoral documents, and seized data necessary for announcing the final tally from the country’s eight regions.

The group described the intrusion as “a desperate attempt to destroy the archives” and derail the electoral process.

The eminent Africans condemned what they described as a “staged coup” led by military officers aligned with outgoing President Umaro Embaló, who sought re-election.

They called Embaló’s brief arrest by the military “comic,” noting he appeared eager to announce his removal before fleeing the country.

Reports indicated that he has relocated to Morocco after a short stay in Congo-Brazzaville and is allegedly preparing to reclaim power with loyalist military support.

The coalition welcomed ECOWAS’ plan to dispatch a fact-finding mission led by its current chair, Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio, and urged African Union, United Nations, and CPLP intervention, noting that Guinea-Bissau’s instability threatens the broader region.

The group stressed that copies of the election tallies still exist and could be published with coordinated international pressure, warning that accepting military interference would set a dangerous precedent in West Africa.

The coalition urged Africans and the global community to reject undemocratic maneuvers and support Guinea-Bissau in concluding its electoral process and building durable democratic institutions.