President Julius Maada Bio has intensified regional diplomatic efforts with a high-level engagement involving the military leadership of Guinea-Bissau, signalling the Economic Community of West African States’ (ECOWAS) firm stance on restoring constitutional rule after last week’s coup.
According to State House sources, President Bio, who currently chairs the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, held an extended closed-door session with senior military commanders now controlling Bissau.
The meeting, held under strict security arrangements, focused on the immediate political situation, the detention of President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, and the measures announced by Guinea-Bissau’s new High Military Command, which has declared itself responsible for national security and public order.
In a statement issued after the talks, President Bio stressed that his mission was guided by the resolutions adopted during the Extraordinary Session of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council.
He noted that the region cannot afford further instability and reaffirmed ECOWAS’s “unwavering commitment” to ensuring that constitutional order is restored without delay.
Diplomatic analysts say ECOWAS is seeking to maintain pressure on the military while simultaneously pursuing dialogue to prevent further deterioration of the security situation.
The bloc has repeatedly maintained a zero-tolerance policy for unconstitutional changes of government, a position reinforced by recent crises in Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
President Bio’s intervention is seen as a crucial step in preventing Guinea-Bissau from sliding deeper into political uncertainty.
His discussions with the military junta are expected to form the basis of a broader ECOWAS response, which may include sanctions, mediation missions, or coordinated diplomatic pressure in the coming days.
The regional organisation is expected to issue further directives as it evaluates the outcomes of Bio’s visit and continues efforts to safeguard democratic governance across West Africa.
