Ofure Akhigbe
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has condemned the military coup that ousted Guinea-Bissau President, Umaro Embaló, describing it as a grave violation of democratic principles.
In a statement issued on Thursday, November 27, by his spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, Guterres denounced the military takeover as “an unacceptable violation of democratic principles,” warning that any attempt to undermine constitutional order would not be tolerated.
President Embaló was deposed on Wednesday, November 26, after military officers announced they had seized “total control” of the West African nation, just ahead of the expected release of presidential election results.
Embaló had been seeking re-election against his main challenger, Fernando Dias, with both candidates previously laying claim to victory before the release of provisional results from the November 23 general elections.
The UN chief stressed that any action which disregards the will of the people, who peacefully cast their votes during the election, constitutes a serious breach of democratic norms.
Guterres called for the “immediate and unconditional restoration of constitutional order” and the release of all detained officials. He specifically demanded the freedom of those involved in the electoral process, opposition leaders and other political actors currently in detention.
He further urged all stakeholders to exercise restraint, uphold democratic institutions and respect the rule of law.
The Secretary-General also called on the military junta to respect the will of the people and act in accordance with international human rights obligations, emphasising that disputes must be resolved through peaceful, inclusive dialogue and legal means.
Guterres reaffirmed the full support of the United Nations for the efforts of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the West African Elders Forum to restore normalcy in Guinea-Bissau.
According to him, the UN is backing regional efforts to safeguard democracy, promote stability, support the peaceful conclusion of the electoral process and ensure the country’s swift return to democratic governance.