ECOWAS Chairman and President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio, says he has held talks with the military leadership in Guinea-Bissau as the regional bloc steps up efforts to restore constitutional rule in the country.

In a statement posted on his X account on Monday, President Bio said the engagement followed resolutions reached during an extraordinary meeting of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council.

“Pursuant to the communiqué of the Extraordinary Session of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council, I engaged in a constructive discussion with the military leadership of Guinea-Bissau,” he wrote.

Bio reaffirmed ECOWAS’s firm stance on democratic governance, adding that the bloc remains committed to ensuring the full return of constitutional order.

“As Chairperson of the Authority of Heads of State and Government, I reaffirmed ECOWAS’s unwavering commitment to restore constitutional order,” he stated.

Guinea-Bissau has long struggled with political instability and frequent military interventions. Since independence in 1974, the country has experienced multiple coups and disputed elections, undermining efforts to build stable democratic institutions.

The latest crisis erupted after the 23 November 2025 elections, when both incumbent president Umaro Embaló and opposition candidate Fernando Dias da Costa claimed victory. Tensions escalated rapidly.

On 26 November, soldiers moved on key government installations, declaring they had “taken total control” of the country.

They suspended the electoral process, sealed off all land, sea and air borders and imposed a night-time curfew.

A day later, the junta, calling itself the High Military Command for the Restoration of National Security and Public Order, appointed Horta Inta-A Na Man as transitional president for one year.

The military later reopened the borders to ease economic pressure and address humanitarian concerns.

In response, ECOWAS convened an emergency virtual meeting on 28 November, chaired by President Bio.

The bloc condemned the coup, demanded the release of detained officials and suspended Guinea-Bissau from all ECOWAS decision-making bodies until constitutional rule is reinstated.

Former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan, who led the ECOWAS observer mission to the polls, has publicly questioned the legitimacy of the coup, suggesting it may have been orchestrated by President Embaló himself.