The Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Wednesday dismissed allegations of corruption involving members of an official delegation on a mission to Guinea-Bissau, describing the claims as “entirely false” and without factual basis.
In a statement issued in Freetown, Sierra Leone, the Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff (CCDS) denied reports suggesting that members of its delegation were involved in or targeted by an attempted bribery scheme during an official visit to Guinea-Bissau from 19 to 23 June 2026. According to the statement, no member of the delegation was approached, solicited, or implicated in any act of corruption or undue influence during the mission.
The CCDS categorically rejected these allegations as entirely false, baseless, and devoid of any factual foundation, directly responding to claims circulated by certain media outlets and on social media platforms. The regional military body stressed that no complaint, report, or evidence had been brought to the attention of the delegation, the ECOWAS Stabilisation Support Mission in Guinea-Bissau (ESSMGB), or the Bissau Royal Hotel, where members of the mission were accommodated. The CCDS further noted that Guinea-Bissau’s National Transitional Council and the hotel’s management had publicly refuted the allegations and confirmed that no evidence existed to support them, with the hotel management adding that no grievance was raised against the delegation, whose stay proceeded normally and satisfactorily.
According to the statement received by APA, the mission held successful consultations with Bissau-Guinean authorities and key stakeholders on the implementation of the revised mandate of the ESSMGB, its operational requirements, the envisaged process for the gradual drawdown and withdrawal of the mission, and broader issues relating to peace, security, and stability in the country. Reaffirming its commitment to professionalism, integrity, transparency, and accountability, the CCDS called on media organisations and other stakeholders to exercise diligence and responsibility when reporting on matters related to regional security. The committee also expressed its appreciation to the authorities of Guinea-Bissau, the leadership of the ESSMGB, and all relevant stakeholders for their cooperation throughout the mission.
Separately, Guinea-Bissau’s National Transitional Council (CNT) announced the launch of criminal proceedings against journalist Paula Borges, accusing her of spreading “fake news” following the publication that triggered the initial allegations. The CNT dismissed the claims as pure speculation and groundless rumours. The ECOWAS mission comes against the backdrop of an ongoing political transition in Guinea-Bissau, a country that has been governed by transitional authorities since the military seized power on 26 November 2025 following a disputed presidential election whose results were never officially announced. ECOWAS, which suspended Guinea-Bissau from its decision-making bodies, continues to support efforts aimed at restoring constitutional order, while the transitional authorities have scheduled new presidential and legislative elections for 6 December 2026.
AC/lb/abj/APA