MONROVIA, LIBERIA-The Authority of Heads of State and Government, the highest decision-making body of ECOWAS, has held an emergency meeting on the latest coup in Guinea-Bissau.

On Wednesday, November 26, 2025, a group of military officers announced that they had seized control of Guinea-Bissau, amid reports that the President, Umrao Sissoco Embalo, had been arrested.

Shortly after gunshots were fired in the capital, Bissau, President Embalo was reportedly detained.

The officers then appeared on state television, saying that they had suspended the electoral process, following Sunday’s presidential election.

Thursday’s ECOWAS meeting was virtually attended by President Joseph Boakai, along with the Presidents of Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and the Chairperson of the African Union (AU).

Meanwhile, a communique is expected to be released soon.

At the same time, the President of the AU Commission, Mahmoud Youssouf, has condemned the military coup d’etat in Guinea-Bissau.

The Chairperson of the AU said,” The coup has resulted in the arrest of President Embalo, high-level officials, and political leaders, while the country was about to announce election results”.

He said the AU has a zero-tolerance policy in relation to any unconstitutional change of government, as well as the firm rejection of such practices, in accordance with the Union’s main regulatory instruments.

Ambassador Mahmoud Youssouf emphasized the imperative character of respect for the ongoing electoral process and preservation of constitutional order, in accordance with the mandate of the National Elections Commission.

Ambassador Youssouf then called for the immediate and unconditional release of President Embalo and all those responsible detained, urging all parties to exercise maximum restraint to avoid any further deterioration of the situation.