December 03, (THEWILL) — The ECOWAS Parliament has condemned a recent military coup in Guinea-Bissau, describing it as an unacceptable assault on democracy and a grave threat to regional and global stability.
The Speaker of the Parliament, Memounatou Ibrahima, delivered the message during the opening of the 2025 Second Ordinary Session on Tuesday in Abuja, where lawmakers gathered amid growing concern over democratic backsliding across West Africa.
The two-week session, which coincides with the Parliament’s 25th anniversary, will examine key regional priorities, including the 2026 Community Budget, pending legislative reforms, gender parity and women’s political participation, member-state reports, and strategic engagements with international partners. A special segment of Wednesday’s sitting has been set aside exclusively for deliberations on the political crisis in Guinea-Bissau.
Ibrahima, whose keynote was read on her behalf by the First Deputy Speaker and Nigeria’s Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, warned that the coup violates ECOWAS’ long-standing zero-tolerance policy on unconstitutional changes of government. She said the military takeover occurred despite a peaceful electoral process and insisted that the democratic mandate of the people must be restored without delay.
Describing the situation as both a domestic constitutional breach and a destabilising blow to an already fragile region, she noted that West Africa continues to face layered challenges—from insecurity and economic strain to delicate political transitions. The coup, she said, adds to the ripple of instability stretching from the Sahel to coastal states.
Ibrahima announced that a high-level session would convene on Wednesday to allow regional lawmakers to conduct extensive deliberations and agree on a coordinated response to the crisis. She reaffirmed the Parliament’s solidarity with the citizens of Guinea-Bissau, declaring that ECOWAS remains committed to defending democratic norms and protecting the integrity of electoral processes across the sub-region.
According to her, the resurgence of coups demands renewed firmness from ECOWAS institutions and heads of state, who are aligned on necessary sanctions and diplomatic engagements to reverse the military takeover.
“The voices of the people, expressed clearly and peacefully at the ballot box, must be respected”, she stressed.
The Speaker further called for collective action to safeguard democratic gains, emphasising that despite ongoing security threats, economic pressures, climate shocks, and fragile transitions, united regional cooperation remains West Africa’s strongest defence. She urged deeper integration, stronger governance structures, and enhanced partnerships with global institutions to ensure long-term stability and development across the sub-region.
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