The Federal Government has condemned the military coup in Guinea-Bissau, labeling it a serious threat to both democracy and regional stability.
In a statement released on Thursday by Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa, Nigeria expressed that it received the news “with profound dismay and deep concern,” criticizing the coup as causing “an unconstitutional change of government in the Republic of Guinea-Bissau.”
The statement added, “The Federal Government condemns this act of military insurrection which undermines the democratic progress, constitutional order, and stability not only of Guinea-Bissau but of the entire West African sub-region.”
It continued: “It represents a blatant violation of the fundamental principles of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, which explicitly rejects any ascension to power through unconstitutional means.”
Nigeria declared support for the people of Guinea-Bissau, demanding the “immediate and unconditional restoration of constitutional order, the safety and security of all those detained, and full respect for the sanctity of democratic institutions in Guinea-Bissau.”
The statement also urged Guinea-Bissau authorities to ensure the safety of foreign election observers still in the country.
“The Nigerian Government wishes to unequivocally call on the authorities in Guinea-Bissau to ensure and guarantee the safety of all election observers still in the country on official assignment,” it said.
Calling for calm, Nigeria urged all involved parties to maintain peace and respect Guinea-Bissau’s democratic processes.
The statement noted, “The Federal Government of Nigeria urges all actors involved to exercise utmost restraint, prioritise peaceful dialogue, and respect the will of the people of Guinea-Bissau as expressed through their ballots and the peaceful conclusion of the election with the announcement of results by the electoral management body.”
The government warned that those responsible for the coup will face consequences.
It stated, “We warn that the perpetrators of this act will be held accountable for their actions, which threaten to plunge the nation into chaos and reverse the hard-won gains of its democracy.”
Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with regional and international partners to restore stability.
The statement concluded: “As a key member of ECOWAS and the African Union, Nigeria will work closely with our regional and international partners to take all necessary measures to ensure the swift return to normalcy and constitutional governance in Guinea-Bissau. We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the promotion of democracy, peace, and stability across the African continent.”
Election observers from the African Union (AU) and ECOWAS condemned the coup on Wednesday, calling it a direct attempt to sabotage Guinea-Bissau’s democratic process.
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