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The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has urged Guinea-Bissau’s military authorities to begin broad consultations with national stakeholders after the country’s electoral commission said elections scheduled for December 6 could no longer proceed as planned.
The presidential and legislative elections were intended to restore constitutional rule following the November 2025 military takeover that removed President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and interrupted an electoral process already in progress.
Guinea-Bissau’s authorities have since confirmed that the December elections will be postponed, but have not announced a new date. ECOWAS said the authorities should consult political actors and other national stakeholders on a revised electoral timetable through a transparent and inclusive process. The regional bloc said such engagement was necessary to safeguard conditions for a peaceful and credible return to constitutional order.
The electoral commission said this week that the conditions required to organise the presidential and legislative elections by December 6 would not be met.
The delay adds to continuing political uncertainty in Guinea-Bissau, where the November coup followed elections that regional and international observer missions had described as peaceful and transparent. ECOWAS subsequently rejected the military leadership’s transition programme and called for the restoration of constitutional government and the political rights of all actors.
Some political opponents and observers have alleged that Embaló played a role in the military takeover to prevent the completion of an election process they believed he could lose. The allegation has remained contested.
Guinea-Bissau has experienced repeated military interventions since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974, including five coups and several attempted takeovers.
ECOWAS has repeatedly called for dialogue, consensus and credible electoral processes in Guinea-Bissau as part of efforts to support political stability and constitutional governance in the West African state.
