Foreign
ECOWAS Suspends Guinea-Bissau After Coup, Orders Immediate Release Of President
West African leaders have placed a suspension on Guinea-Bissau following the military takeover of November 26, saying the action has pushed the country into deeper political uncertainty.
The regional bloc stressed that democratic order must return immediately and demanded the release of President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, who was seized during the crisis.
This decision came after an emergency virtual meeting of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council held on Thursday night.
The session, chaired by Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio, brought together heads of state, foreign ministers, and top representatives from several member countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Senegal, Cabo Verde, and Côte d’Ivoire. Senior officials from Benin, The Gambia, and Togo were also part of the deliberations.
Officials from the ECOWAS Commission, the African Union, the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel, and Guinea-Bissau’s foreign minister joined the meeting as observers.
The atmosphere was tense, as the council reviewed a detailed report submitted by ECOWAS Commission President Omar Touray on the escalating situation.
In the briefing, leaders raised alarm over the disruption of the electoral process in the country.
They commended ordinary citizens for their “resilience and commitment to democracy” despite the tension surrounding the November 23 polls. The council noted that the takeover has undermined confidence in the democratic transition.
ECOWAS, in its formal resolution, said it “condemns in the strongest terms the coup d’état perpetrated on 26 November 2025 and calls for the unconditional restoration of constitutional order without delay.”
The bloc added that it “rejects any arrangements that perpetuate the illegal abortion of the democratic process and the subversion of the will of the people of Guinea-Bissau.”
The regional body insisted that the electoral commission must be allowed to continue its work and release results from the suspended vote. It demanded that the “will of the people” be respected and urged coup leaders to stop interfering with the electoral process.
The communiqué further called for the “immediate and unconditional release of all detained officials, in particular President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, as well as the electoral officials and all other political figures.”
ECOWAS warned that the masterminds of the coup would be held “both individually and collectively responsible for the protection of life and property of all citizens and residents of Guinea-Bissau and for the security and safety of all detainees.”
The council instructed the military to guarantee safe access for ECOWAS observers and international partners still monitoring the election.
It stated that “the MSC decides, in accordance with the provisions of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance 2001 (A/SP/12/01), to suspend Guinea-Bissau from all ECOWAS decision-making bodies until the restoration of full and effective constitutional order in the country.”
To address the crisis, a high-level delegation led by the ECOWAS chair and supported by the presidents of Togo, Cabo Verde, and Senegal will travel to Bissau for direct engagement with the coup leaders. Their mandate is to push for the swift reinstatement of democratic governance.
The bloc urged the military high command to step back from politics, return to the barracks, and uphold their constitutional responsibilities. ECOWAS also directed its Stabilisation Support Mission in Guinea-Bissau to continue safeguarding state institutions in the meantime.
In a sign of escalating pressure, the organisation warned that it “reserves the right to use all options” allowed under its protocols, including sanctions, if the junta continues to defy the regional position.
The African Union and the European Union also issued strong reactions, condemning the coup and demanding the release of President Embaló.
Senegal confirmed on Thursday that the detained president had been flown into the country “safe and sound.”
Political tensions had been rising even before the coup, as the electoral race between President Embaló and opposition candidate Fernando Dias da Costa grew fiercely competitive.
Dias da Costa later told reporters that he believed he won the vote and accused Embaló of manipulating the process—an allegation the president firmly denied.
Following the takeover, the military named General Horta N’Tam, the army chief of staff, as the head of a one-year transition. After taking his oath, he told the nation, “I have just been sworn in to lead the High Command.”
Guinea-Bissau has a long history of political instability, and this latest development has once again placed the fragile nation at the centre of regional diplomatic attention.
Mali’s Defence Minister, Sadio Camara, has been killed following a wave of coordinated attacks targeting military installations across the country.
Camara reportedly died from injuries sustained during an attack on his residence in Kati, a key military garrison town located about 15 kilometres from Bamako.
The assault, which occurred barely 24 hours before his death, involved a suicide car bomb and formed part of a broader offensive across the country.
The attacks were reportedly carried out by fighters linked to Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, an al-Qaeda-affiliated group, alongside Tuareg rebels from the Liberation Front of Azawad.
According to Al Jazeera, the attackers were able to breach Kati, considered one of the most secure military locations in Mali.
Camara, a key figure in Mali’s military leadership, rose to prominence after playing a central role in the coups of 2020 and 2021 that brought the current junta to power.
Al Jazeera’s Nicolas Haque described his death as significant.
“He was one of the most influential figures within the ruling military leadership… His death is a major blow to the country’s armed forces,” he said.
The coordinated offensive extended beyond Kati, with gunmen attacking several locations including Bamako, Gao, Kidal and Sevare.
“As we speak, people in the garrison town of Kidal can still hear heavy gunfire and loud explosions,” Haque said, adding that the operation remained ongoing more than 24 hours after it began.
The attacks have intensified pressure on Mali’s interim leadership, with analysts suggesting that security forces were overwhelmed by the scale and coordination of the violence.
However, Interim President, Assimi Goita, was reportedly moved to safety and remains in control of the military.
International bodies, including the African Union, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and the United States Bureau of African Affairs, have condemned the attacks and called for urgent measures to restore stability.
President Bola Tinubu has declared Nigeria’s support for countries in the Gulf region following rising tension linked to the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.
Naija News reports that he made this known in Abuja during a formal ceremony where he received letters of credence from several foreign diplomats. The event had representatives from countries such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia, alongside envoys from Lebanon, Sudan, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, Argentina, and Congo.
During the meeting, the president assured the visiting diplomats that Nigeria stands with nations in the Gulf, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, and Jordan. He praised their calm approach in handling the situation and stressed the need for peace across the region.
Tinubu described the diplomatic gathering as an important step in strengthening Nigeria’s relationship with other countries. He encouraged the envoys to build stronger partnerships with Nigeria that would benefit both sides.
He also spoke about his government’s economic direction, saying efforts are being made to position Nigeria as an attractive destination for investors. He pointed out opportunities in areas like infrastructure, economic growth, and diaspora involvement, inviting the diplomats to explore these sectors.
On regional matters, the president restated Nigeria’s role in the Economic Community of West African States, especially in maintaining democratic order, improving trade among member states, and addressing instability in the Sahel region.
Tinubu further noted that global issues such as climate change, energy challenges, terrorism, and unfair financial systems require countries to work together.
He said Nigeria is ready to cooperate with other nations both directly and through international platforms to promote a safer and fairer global system.
According to a report by Telegraph, on Thursday April 23, 2026, Israel’s defence minister has declared the country stands prepared to resume military operations against Iran, but only upon receiving authorisation from the Trump administration, as tensions between the two nations continue to simmer beneath a fragile ceasefire.
The statement came amid fresh alarm in the Iranian capital on [date], after Iranian state media reported that explosions were heard above Tehran and air defence systems were activated across the city. The developments immediately triggered speculation of a new Israeli strike, drawing swift attention from regional observers and international monitors tracking the volatile situation.
However, a source within the Israeli military moved quickly to dismiss those claims. Speaking to Israeli outlet Ynet, the source firmly stated that Israel had not carried out any attacks on Iran, offering a direct contradiction to the wave of concern that had swept through diplomatic circles following the reports from Tehran.
A ceasefire between the two countries has been in effect since April 8, and Israeli officials have so far indicated no public breach of that agreement. Despite this, the defence minister’s earlier remarks have raised serious questions about how durable that truce remains, particularly given its apparent dependency on political decisions emanating from Washington.
The reference to a required “green light” from the Trump administration underscores the degree to which Israeli military calculations are now intertwined with American foreign policy direction. Analysts note that this framing places significant weight on Washington’s posture toward Tehran, effectively making U.S. political will a trigger mechanism for potential renewed hostilities in the region.
Iran has not officially responded to the Israeli defence minister’s statement at the time of reporting. The sounds heard over Tehran, while alarming to residents and regional watchers, remain unexplained by Iranian authorities beyond initial media reports of activated air defences.
The situation reflects the precarious nature of the current ceasefire, with both nations maintaining high military readiness even as formal hostilities remain paused. Observers warn that the combination of unexplained aerial activity and bellicose ministerial language represents a dangerous mix that could rapidly destabilise the existing arrangement.
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