A powerful coalition of eminent African statesmen, diplomats and pro-democracy voices has called on ECOWAS to immediately compel Guinea-Bissau’s authorities to release the country’s withheld election results, warning that the ongoing military interference amounts to a direct threat to democratic stability in West Africa.
The coalition, made up of former presidents, civil society leaders, regional democracy advocates and conflict-resolution experts, condemned what they described as “a dangerous pattern” of political manipulation by the military hierarchy in Bissau. They insisted that ECOWAS must invoke its protocols on democracy and good governance to prevent the country from sliding into yet another constitutional crisis.
According to the group, the refusal of Guinea-Bissau’s electoral authorities to publish official results — amid reports of pressure and intimidation from military commanders — is already fuelling tension, uncertainty and potential unrest. They warned that silence or hesitation from ECOWAS could embolden anti-democratic actors across the region.
The coalition stressed that the situation mirrors earlier patterns that destabilised Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea, arguing that the region cannot afford “another experiment in military-backed political disruption.” They urged ECOWAS to deploy a high-level fact-finding mission, demand full transparency of the vote collation process, and protect civilian institutions from coercion.
Their statement also called on the African Union, the United Nations, and key international partners to support regional efforts to safeguard democracy in Guinea-Bissau, emphasising that the will of the people must prevail over “behind-the-barracks power games.”
As tension builds in Bissau and speculation spreads online over alleged interference in the electoral process, the coalition warned that any prolonged delay in announcing results could ignite protests, trigger instability, or invite opportunistic actors seeking to exploit the crisis.
ECOWAS has not yet issued a formal response, but diplomatic sources say consultations are ongoing. The region watches closely as Guinea-Bissau edges toward a critical crossroads: transparency and legitimacy — or another democracy pushed to the brink.
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