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ECOWAS suspends Guinea

ECOWAS suspends Guinea

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has suspended Guinea's membership from the community following last weekend's military coup that ousted President Alpha Conde.

During a virtual emergency summit Wednesday [September 8], the leaders of the regional political and economic bloc demanded a return to constitutional rule and the immediate and unconditional release of Prof. Conde.

The decision, which was taken at a virtual meeting called at the instance of the ECOWAS Chairman, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, also agreed to send a high-level mission to Guinea today.

Release of prisoners

At the time the regional bloc was discussing the situation in Guinea, multiple media reports said the junta had released dozens of political detainees of the past government, as the military leaders sought popular support from the population.

Response

Opening the summit, President Akufo-Addo, said it was being held to discuss “our response to this clear violation of our common charter of good governance in the region”.

He stressed the need for the regional body to come to a conclusion on “what decision we want to take in response to the overthrow”.

President Akufo-Addo said the manner the leadership of ECOWAS had responded in times of crises was the surest testimony of the leaders' strength and commitment to achieving the goals of the regional body.

He was of the view that there was no need for the leaders to have a long opening ceremony because all of them knew the main matter which had brought them together on a virtual platform.

President Akufo-Addo described the situation in Guinea as “unfortunate and regrettable”. 

Last Sunday, ECOWAS demanded that the members of the Guinean defence and security forces who embarked on a coup in that country to return it to constitutional rule and called for the immediate and unconditional release of President Condé and all other persons in detention following the coup d'etat.

President Akufo-Addo, who made the demand in a statement, also said, “ECOWAS demands respect for the physical safety of the President of the Republic, Professor Condé”.

“We ask the Guinean defence and security forces to remain in a constitutional posture and express our solidarity with the Guinean people and their government,” it added.

Below is a copy of the communique issued by ECOWAS

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