BRUSSELS, — The European Union has voiced deep concern over recent military intervention in Guinea-Bissau and demanded an immediate return to the country’s constitutional order.
The statement from the European External Action Service (EEAS) comes days after soldiers seized power, interrupting the counting of votes from a contentious presidential and legislative election.
“The EU notes with concern the developments in Guinea-Bissau,” an EEAS spokesperson said. “In line with the statements issued by the Chair of ECOWAS Authority and the African Union Commission Chairperson, we call for a swift return to the constitutional order and the resumption of the electoral process.”
The military takeover occurred just as the nation was awaiting the consolidation of the election results, which were held on Nov. 23. The military high command subsequently announced a transitional government.
The EU stressed that the democratic will of the people must be respected and upheld.
“The vote count interrupted by the military intervention just before its consolidation should be allowed to proceed as planned,” the statement continued. “The results of the presidential and legislative elections should be respected by all parties.”
The bloc also issued a strong call for the respect of human rights and the safety of detainees.
“The EU urges to abstain from all violent action and calls to free all extrajudicially detained persons and to respect fundamental rights and freedoms,” the spokesperson concluded.
The military coup is the latest in a string of power grabs in the West African nation, which has a long history of political instability since gaining independence. Regional bodies, including the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union, have similarly condemned the intervention and called for the unconditional release of all detained officials.
