A coalition of Senegalese and Guinea-Bissau civil society organizations is calling on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to ensure the installation of the elected president, following the military coup of November 26 that left the National Electoral Commission (CNE) paralyzed.
Organizations, including Afrikajom Center, Frente Popular, Africtivistes, and Sen_CADDHU, are demanding the immediate proclamation of the results of the November 23, 2025 presidential election. They argue that this is the only way to restore constitutional order and respect the will of the people.
The demand comes after the National Electoral Commission (CNE) declared its “total impossibility” of concluding the electoral process. On Tuesday, December 2, the CNE reported that its facilities were ransacked and all essential documents and equipment, including the original tally sheets and servers, were confiscated. This vandalism resulted in the loss of the national tally software, making the official announcement of results impossible.
This situation contradicts earlier assurances from Foreign Minister João Bernardo Vieira, who had stated the results could be published after data was transmitted to ECOWAS.
Despite the CNE’s difficulties, the civil society organizations are urging ECOWAS to exert firm pressure on the military authorities to guarantee the proclamation of the results and the installation of the elected president. They point out that other copies of the official reports exist in regional commissions, which can legally be used to conclude the electoral process.
The organizations condemned the coup as “a crime against democracy and the sovereignty of the people,” and “all unconstitutional means of seizing power.”
They also demanded the immediate release of all those arrested, including opposition figure Domingos Simões Pereira, as well as the return of the military to their barracks and their submission to the authority of the elected president.
The new military authorities, led by General Horta N’Tam, justified their intervention as necessary to prevent conflict and have announced plans for a one-year transition period, which is scheduled for discussion at the ECOWAS Heads of State Conference on December 14. However, no firm guarantees have been provided regarding the release of political prisoners or the return of the necessary election documents.
AC/fss/abj/APA