Ecowas suspends Guinea following the coup last weekend
Following the toppling of President Alpha Conde’s government in Guinea, the country has been suspended from Ecowas with immediate effect but no economic sanctions announced yet as was in the case of Mali.
This decision was taken by the highest organ of the Economic Community of West African States after an emergency summit chaired by President Akufo-Addo who is the chair of the authority of heads of state and government.
The virtual summit had an extraordinary session where ten countries participated
For Nigeria, they were represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo whiles Benin, Cape Verde and some other member states were represented by their Foreign Ministers.
Jean-Claude, President of the ECOWAS Commission, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat and Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for West Africa, Mahamat Saleh Annadif were all in attendance.
According to a communiqué issued after the summit, a high-level Ecowas mission will be sent to Conakry to assess the situation. Meanwhile, the body is demanding the immediate return to democracy and also the release of Alpha Conde and all who have been arrested.
The coup d’etat was however condemned by the body as it reaffirmed its “unreserved” opposition to any political change by unconstitutional means.
Updates from Guinea
Since power changed hands on Sunday, a lot has happened in the country aside from the calls from regional and international bodies for the return of the country to constitutional rule. New leader Mamady Doumbouya has pledged to install a unified transitional government but has not given any timelines.
Persons who were sent to prison for campaigning against the constitutional change by Alpha Conde has been released. It is reported that at least 80 opposition prisoners have been released since Tuesday.
The new leader has also met with heads of the country’s various military branches with the hope of them all working together as a unified front. Life has returned to the streets, and work at various offices and industries are smoothly running without hindrance.
By: Stella Annan | myactiveonline.com Twitter @activetvgh
