The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will hold an extraordinary summit on Guinea on Thursday, according to a staff memo.
The summit comes in the wake of a coup that ousted the 11 year-old government of President Alpha Conde on Sunday.
Coup leader Col. Mamady Doumbouya has dissolved Conde’s cabinet and suspended the constitution.
This prompted ECOWAS first reaction by its chairman, President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana, demanding a return to constitutional order and threatening to impose sanctions.
Akufo-Addo said ECOWAS demands the immediate and unconditional release of President Alpha Condé as well as others arrested.
“ECOWAS notes with great concern the recent political developments which occurred in Conakry, Republic of Guinea. She condemns with the greatest firmness this coup attempt on Sunday, September 5, 2021.
“ECOWAS demands respect for the physical integrity of the President of the Republic, the Professor Alpha Condé, and his immediate and unconditional release as well as that of all the personalities arrested
“ECOWAS reaffirms its disapproval of any unconstitutional political change.
“She asks the defense and security forces to remain in a posture Republican and expresses its solidarity with the Guinean people and Government,” Akufo-Addo stated.
The Guinean coup was the second in West Africa after the 18 August 2020 Malian military coup that ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.
ECOWAS had failed to restore democracy in the country.
