ECOWAS big shots convened in Bissau this past weekend to press Guinea-Bissau’s military government on two hot-button issues: freeing political detainees and mapping out the return to constitutional rule 🤝🌍.
Leading the charge were Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio (currently ECOWAS chair) and Senegal President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, joined by Guinea-Bissau’s transitional president Horta Inta-A. They sat down with detained opposition figure Domingos Simoes Pereira and visited Fernando Dias, another candidate now seeking refuge at Nigeria’s embassy 🏛️.
Since the December coup, six opposition members linked to Pereira were freed in late December and three more on January 8. ECOWAS reps are pushing for the unconditional release of all political prisoners, arguing that trust and transparency are non-negotiables for any smooth transition ✌️.
But Guinea-Bissau’s military command prefers a gradual release without a fixed timeline, saying the country needs a solid “security period” to stabilize before elections—and hinting that one year might not cut it ⏳.
ECOWAS mediators are standing firm on a short, structured roadmap back to democracy, complete with a clear election schedule. They also discussed deploying a standby force if talks hit a dead end—a move local authorities see as sensitive for national sovereignty.
As the region watches, all eyes are on whether West Africa’s regional bloc can crack the code for a fair, fast, and peaceful handover. Stay tuned—this story is just heating up! 🔥
Reference(s):
ECOWAS, Guinea-Bissau's military discuss detainee release, transition
cgtn.com
