By Ikugbadi Oluwasegun
Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, has unequivocally condemned in the strongest terms the military coup d’état that occurred in Guinea-Bissau on Tuesday, during which President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, senior government officials and political leaders were arrested.
This was disclosed in a statement issued from AU headquarters, Mr Youssouf reiterated the African Union’s “zero tolerance” policy towards any unconstitutional change of government, citing the AU Constitutive Act, the 2000 Lomé Declaration, the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, and the Ezulwini Framework.
The Chairperson noted the joint statement issued earlier the same day by the heads of the African Union, ECOWAS and West African Elders Forum election observation missions, and stressed that only the National Electoral Commission (CNE) has the legal authority to proclaim official results.
He demanded the immediate and unconditional release of President Embaló and all other detained individuals, and called on all parties to exercise maximum restraint to prevent further escalation.
Mr Youssouf reaffirmed the AU’s readiness to work closely with ECOWAS and international partners to restore constitutional order and protect the democratic process through dialogue and legal means.
The African Union, he added, stands in full solidarity with the people of Guinea-Bissau and remains committed to supporting lasting peace, stability and democratic consolidation in the country.
