UN Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed deep concern over recent events in Guinea-Bissau, where elements of the military have staged a coup d’état and disrupted the constitutional order. In a statement released late on Thursday, Guterres strongly condemned the coup and emphasized that disregarding the will of the people who participated in the 23 November general elections goes against democratic principles.
The Secretary-General called for the immediate and unconditional restoration of constitutional order in Guinea-Bissau. He also urged the release of all detained officials, including electoral authorities, opposition leaders, and other political actors. Guterres emphasized the importance of all stakeholders exercising restraint, upholding the rule of law, and resolving disputes through peaceful and inclusive dialogue and legal means.
Media reports indicate that soldiers seized power before official election results could be announced and installed Major-General Horta Inta-a as a transitional president. The ousted president, Umaro Sissoco Embaló, sought refuge in Senegal following the coup. This military takeover is the latest in a series of similar incidents in West and Central Africa, highlighting ongoing regional instability.
Concerns have been raised about potential human rights violations in Guinea-Bissau following the coup. Reports suggest politically motivated arrests and the excessive use of force by the military. At least 18 individuals, including government officials, magistrates, and opposition figures, have been arbitrarily detained, with most held incommunicado. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, expressed deep alarm over these reports and called for the immediate and unconditional release of all those detained. Türk also raised concerns about the temporary shutdown of independent radio stations, disruptions to internet access, and the use of live ammunition to disperse peaceful protesters in the capital, Bissau. He emphasized the importance of the military respecting fundamental freedoms, including the right to peaceful assembly.
In response to the situation in Guinea-Bissau, the Secretary-General reiterated the UN’s support for the efforts of regional organizations such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union, and the West African Elders Forum. These organizations are working to safeguard democracy, promote stability, and assist Guinea-Bissau in peacefully concluding the electoral process and returning to its democratic path.
The African Union also condemned the coup in Guinea-Bissau, with Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf emphasizing the organization’s zero-tolerance policy towards unconstitutional changes of government. He called for…
