The Nigerian government on Thursday condemned the coup in Guinea-Bissau, demanding the restoration of democratic order in the country.
The Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which stated this through a statement issued on Thursday by it’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa,, said it was dismayed by the incident, and described the military takeover of power in Guinea-Bissau as “unfortunate”.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria, in the strongest possible terms, 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,”
“This coup d’état represents a blatant violation of the fundamental principles of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, which explicitly rejects any ascension to power through unconstitutional means.
“We stand in solidarity with the people of Guinea-Bissau and call for the immediate and unconditional restoration of constitutional order, the safety and security of all those detained and the full respect for the sanctity of democratic institutions in Guinea-Bissau,” the ministry said in the statement.
Nigeria asked all actors to “exercise utmost restraint, prioritize peaceful dialogue, and respect the will of the people of Guinea-Bissau” in the just-conducted election in Guinea-Bissau.
“We warn that those behind 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,” the statement read.
It promised to “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”.
Military officers in Guinea-Bissau on Wednesday took “total control” of the country while suspending its electoral process and closing its borders, three days after the poverty-stricken West African nation’s legislative and presidential elections.
In the early afternoon, General Denis N’Canha, head of the presidential military office, told members of the press that a command “composed of all branches of the armed forces, was taking over the leadership of the country until further notice”.
They arrested incumbent President Umaro Embalo, who had been favoured to win Sunday’s election.
Election observers from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU) have also condemned the coup.
“We deplore this blatant attempt to disrupt the democratic process and the gains that have been achieved thus far,” the observers wrote in the statement on Wednesday.
“We request the African Union and the ECOWAS to take the necessary steps to restore constitutional order.”
