Bissau, Guinea-Bissau – January 11, 2026 – In a continued diplomatic effort to restore constitutional order following last year’s military takeover, Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio, current Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, led a high-level regional mission to Guinea-Bissau.
The delegation engaged directly with Major-General Horta Inta-a, head of the High Military Command, in what Bio described as constructive discussions. The talks focused on advancing the regional bloc’s longstanding position outlined in the communiqué from the 68th ECOWAS Ordinary Summit held in Abuja in December 2025.
President Bio reiterated ECOWAS’s firm call for a short and expedited transition period led by an inclusive civilian government that fully represents Guinea-Bissau’s diverse political landscape and society. The objective remains the swift return to constitutional governance through credible, transparent elections, alongside the release of political detainees and broader reforms.
Accompanying President Bio were Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and ECOWAS Commission President Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, underscoring the bloc’s unified commitment to supporting stability in the region amid ongoing political challenges in Guinea-Bissau.
The mission builds on previous engagements since the November 2025 coup that disrupted the presidential election process and installed the current military-led administration under Major-General Horta Inta-a. ECOWAS has consistently rejected the junta’s proposed one-year transition timetable, warning of targeted sanctions against those obstructing an inclusive path forward.
Regional leaders view this latest outreach as a critical step in de-escalating tensions and fostering dialogue toward democratic restoration in one of West Africa’s most coup-prone nations. Further developments are expected as ECOWAS continues to monitor the situation closely.
