The Nigerian government has condemned the coup in Guinea-Bissau, demanding the restoration of democratic order in the West African country.
In a statement on Thursday morning, the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it was dismayed by the incident, and described the military takeover of power in Guinea-Bissau as “unfortunate”.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria, in the strongest possible terms, condemns this act of military insurrection which undermines the democratic progress, constitutional order, and stability not only of Guinea-Bissau but of the entire West African sub-region,” the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, wrote.
“This coup d’état represents a blatant violation of the fundamental principles of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, which explicitly rejects any ascension to power through unconstitutional means.
“We stand in solidarity with the people of Guinea-Bissau and call for the immediate and unconditional restoration of constitutional order, the safety and security of all those detained and the full respect for the sanctity of democratic institutions in Guinea-Bissau.”