ECOWAS in Action: Guinea-Bissau President Secured in Senegal

JarranewsTV – Dakar, Senegal

Senegal President Takes Part in Emergency ECOWAS Summit on Guinea-Bissau Crisis

The Government of Senegal has confirmed that His Excellency President Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye on Tuesday took part in an extraordinary virtual summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to address the unfolding situation in the Republic of Guinea-Bissau following an attempted military takeover.

In a statement issued by the Ministry of African Integration, Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad, the government said the high-level meeting strongly condemned the use of force to seize power and called for the immediate restoration of constitutional order. The summit also demanded the unconditional release of President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and all individuals currently in detention.

ECOWAS leaders further agreed to establish a mediation committee to oversee the implementation of the resolutions adopted. Senegal has been selected as a member of this ad hoc body, which is expected to travel to Bissau in the coming days to engage directly with stakeholders and assess the situation on the ground.

Addressing the summit, President Faye underscored the importance of upholding constitutional legality, ensuring the safety of civilians, and holding any electoral process in a peaceful and secure environment in line with regional frameworks.

According to the ministry, Senegalese authorities have been in continuous contact with political actors in Guinea-Bissau since the onset of the crisis. Under the direct guidance of the Head of State, discussions focused on securing the release of President Embaló and other political detainees, as well as reopening borders to allow the evacuation and repatriation of foreign nationals, including election observers.

As part of these efforts, the Senegalese government dispatched a chartered aircraft to Bissau to facilitate the operation. The intervention ensured the safe transport of President Umaro Sissoco Embaló to Senegal.

The Government of Senegal reiterated its commitment to work closely with ECOWAS, the African Union, and international partners to promote dialogue, stability, and the swift restoration of constitutional governance and democratic legitimacy in Guinea-Bissau.