COMMUNIQUE

Adopted by the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU), at its 1333^rd meeting held on 5 March 2026, on an update on the situation in Guinea-Bissau:

The Peace and Security Council,

Recalling Declaration [Ext/Assembly/AU/Decl.(XVI)] on Terrorism and Unconstitutional Changes of Government, adopted by the 16th Extraordinary Session of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, from 27 to 28 May 2022, the Decision [AHG/Dec.141(XXXV)] and [AHG/Dec.142(XXXV)], adopted by the 35th Ordinary Session of the OAU Assembly of Heads of State and Government held in Algiers, Algeria, from 12 to 14 July 1999;

Reiterating its unwavering commitment to AU’s zero tolerance policy on Unconstitutional Change of Government and to the full implementation of all relevant AU normative instruments, including the AU Constitutive Act; the Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union; the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance;  the Declaration on the Framework for an OAU Response to Unconstitutional Changes of Government, adopted by the 36th Ordinary Session of the OAU Assembly of Heads of State and Government held in Lomé, Togo, from 10 to 12 July 2000 (the Lomé Declaration); as well as the Solemn Declaration of the 50th OAU/AU Anniversary adopted in Addis Ababa on 25 May 2013; which collectively underscore the continent’s firm rejection of unconstitutional changes of government;

Reaffirming the AU’s solidarity with the people of Guinea-Bissau in their legitimate aspirations to promote good governance, democracy, development, and prosperity in their country;

Further recalling all its previous decisions and pronouncements on the situation in Guinea Bissau, particularly Communiqué [PSC/PR/COMM.1315 (2025)] adopted at its 1315th meeting (Emergency Session) held on 28 November 2025;

Taking note of the opening remarks by H.E. Ambassador Mahlaba Almon Mamba, Permanent Representative of The Kingdom of Eswatini to the AU as the Chairperson of the PSC for the month of March 2026; the Introductory Statement by H.E. Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs Peace and Security; also taking note of the briefings by H.E. Patrice Émery Trovoada, former Prime Minister of São Tomé and Principe and AU Special Envoy for Guinea Bissau; and by H.E. Ambassador Ovídio Manuel Barbosa Pequeno, Special Representative of the Chairperson of the AU Commission for Guinea Bissau; as well as the statement by the Representative of the Chairperson of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), H.E Ambassador Harold Bundu Saffa, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Sierra Leone to the AU; and

Acting under Article 7 of its Protocol, the Peace and Security Council:

1. Commends the Chairperson of the AU Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, for his sustained engagement in Guinea Bissau, and in this context, welcomes the appointment of H.E. Patrice Trovoada, Former Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe, as his Special Envoy for Guinea Bissau and requests all stakeholders in Guinea Bissau to extend full cooperation to the Special Envoy to facilitate successful implementation of his mandate;

2. Also commends ECOWAS for the rapid response and sustained mediation efforts in Guinea-Bissau and highlights the imperative for ECOWAS and the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) to maintain a coordinated approach towards facilitating a smooth restoration of constitutional order in Guinea Bissau, including the establishment of an inclusive transitional government and creating the enabling environment for another round of elections that are planned for 6 December 2026;

3. Takes note of the adoption of a Transitional Roadmap aimed at restoring constitutional order and calls for its full, timely, inclusive and transparent implementation in accordance with agreed timelines, in order to create the necessary conditions for the successful organization of credible elections on 6 December 2026;

4. Stresses the importance of an inclusive national dialogue, involving all political movements, civil society, women and youth;

5. Calls on the interim Bissau-Guinea authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Mr. Domingos Simões Pereira and all other political detainees, and to respect the fundamental rights and freedoms of all citizens of Guinea-Bissau;

6. Urges the military leaders of Guinea-Bissau to urgently and unconditionally uphold the principle of constitutionalism, and to refrain from further interference in the political processes in the country;

7. Calls for expeditious development of an integrated plan for security sector reform, with the support of the AU Commission and international partners, with a view to professionalizing the armed forces and strengthening their subordination to civilian authority;

8. Requests the interim authorities of Guinea Bissau to implement the PSC and ECOWAS decisions towards the expeditious restoration of constitutional order in the country; and strongly warns that the PSC will not hesitate to consider imposing targeted punitive measures, including sanctions, against peace spoilers;

9. Reiterates the call for upholding the rule of law, fostering inter-party dialogue, reforming the security sector, and requests the AU Commission to provide technical support in combating drug trafficking and other criminal activities which fuel instability and undermine political and security situations in the country;

10. Calls on for the implementation of the recommendations for  the successful organization of credible elections, including further strengthening the institutional capacity of the National Electoral Commission (CNE) and ensuring the independence of the Supreme Court, and in this context, directs the AU Commission to sustain engagements with the transition government of Guinea Bissau including providing technical support to the NEC with a view to promoting its independence, transparency and institutional integrity;

11. Also calls for continued and coordinated support from ECOWAS, the UN, and the CPLP, including in mediating between conflicting political actors in Guinea Bissau, through a joint monitoring mechanism that harmonizes diplomatic initiatives, political demands and applicable measures;

12. Encourages the international partners not to abandon the people of Guinea Bissau and in this respect, appeals to the international partners, working in collaboration with the AU Commission, to continue providing technical and financial assistance to support the preparation for elections, institutional reforms, and socio-economic stabilization initiatives and in addressing the structural root causes of recurrent instability in the country;

13. Looks forward to the AU-ECOWAS joint assessment mission and decides to undertake a field mission to Guinea Bissau to engage all stakeholder during the course of 2026; and

14. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

COMMENTS