Gambiaj.com – (BISSAU, Guinea-Bissau) – A high-level mission from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has warned Guinea-Bissau’s transitional authorities of potential consequences if they fail to comply with resolutions adopted at the bloc’s last summit, including the release of political prisoners and the formation of an inclusive government.
The ECOWAS delegation was in Bissau over the weekend, where it held a marathon meeting lasting more than five hours with the country’s transitional leadership. The talks were briefly suspended for an internal consultation that lasted over half an hour, underscoring the gravity and complexity of the discussions.
An official ECOWAS statement is expected to be released following the visit. It is anticipated to reaffirm the resolutions adopted at the December 2025 summit of ECOWAS heads of state and government, with a strong emphasis on restoring political inclusivity and safeguarding fundamental rights in Guinea-Bissau.
Among the key demands is the immediate release of all political prisoners. Before departing Bissau, the ECOWAS mission visited Domingos Simões Pereira, leader of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), who is currently in detention, as well as presidential candidate Fernando Dias, who has taken refuge at the Nigerian Embassy in Bissau.
Guinea-Bissau sociologist Tamilton Teixeira said the regional bloc may need to adopt a firmer stance. “The mission could be more categorical this time, making very clear points: this is non-negotiable, this is what we demand, and these are the consequences,” he said.
Teixeira noted that ECOWAS possesses clear coercive mechanisms but warned that the country’s volatile political landscape could place responsibility on the bloc if tensions escalate.
The ECOWAS delegation was led by the organization’s current President, President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, accompanied by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal. Other members included the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Aliou Touray, and the President of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, Aladji Moussa Kaba.
On the Guinean side, the meeting was attended by transition leader Horta Inta-a, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Tomas Djassi, transitional Prime Minister Ilídio Vieira Té, and transitional Foreign Affairs Minister João Bernardo Vieira, alongside senior figures from the High Military Command.
Military Tightens Restrictions Amid Rising Dissent
The ECOWAS visit comes amid tightening restrictions imposed by Guinea-Bissau’s ruling Military High Command, which seized power following the November 2025 general elections. In a statement issued on Friday, the military authorities prohibited “unauthorized” press conferences or public statements, warning that violators would be “severely reprimanded.”
The ban follows public appeals by civil society groups for the release of political detainees and allegations of military abuses, including the widely publicized case of a “toca-toca” driver, Luís.
According to the military, certain individuals and groups—particularly political figures—have been holding clandestine meetings and using public platforms to incite violence and defy restrictions outlined in the Political Transition Charter.
The High Military Command described public complaints and expressions of discontent as “unacceptable conduct” and a “serious affront to national stability.” Critics, however, point out that the country’s suspended constitution guarantees freedom of expression. Article 51 states that “everyone has the right to freely express and disseminate their thoughts by any means at their disposal, as well as the right to inform, to be informed and to receive information without hindrance or discrimination.”
As ECOWAS weighs its next steps, pressure is mounting on Guinea-Bissau’s transitional authorities to meet regional demands and prevent a further deterioration of the country’s political and human rights situation
