COMMUNIQUÉ

Adopted by the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU), at its 1347^th meeting held on 18 May 2026, on an update on the political transition and security 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; 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;

Also recalling all its previous decisions and pronouncements on the situation in Guinea-Bissau, particularly, Communiqué [PSC/PR/COMM.1333 (2026)] adopted at its 1333^rd meeting held on 5 March 2026;

Reaffirming the AU zero-tolerance policy on unconstitutional changes of government and the commitment to ensure full implementation of all 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;

Taking note of the Opening Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Nasir Aminu, Permanent Representative of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the AU as the Chairperson of the PSC for the month of May 2026; the Introductory Statement by H.E. Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security read on his behalf by Mrs. Jocelyne Nahimana, Head of Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration/Security Sector Reform (DDR/SSR) Division, within the Political Affairs, Peace and Security Department (DPAPS); and also taking note of the briefings by H.E. Ambassador Ovídio Manuel Barbosa Pequeno, Special Representative of the Chairperson of the AU Commission for Guinea-Bissau; and the statement by the Representative of the Chairperson of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State, 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. Takes note of the updated briefing by the Commission on the political, security and socio-economic situation in Guinea-Bissau and expresses concern over the continued fragile political situation in the country;

2. Commends the Chairperson of the AU Commission and the AU Special Envoy for Guinea-Bissau, H.E. Patrice Émery Trovoada, for their sustained engagement with the political authorities and other relevant stakeholders in Guinea-Bissau aimed at supporting dialogue, de-escalation of political tension, as well as inclusive and peaceful political transition towards the restoration of constitutional order in the country;

3. Reiterates its call for the immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Domingos Simões Pereira and all political detainees; and  calls on the transitional authorities to fully cooperate with the AU, ECOWAS and CPLP in creating conducive conditions for  an inclusive political transition, including by upholding due process, ensuring constitutional safeguards and the fundamental freedoms and the human rights of all citizens of Guinea-Bissau without exception;

4. Expresses concern over restrictions imposed on political parties, civil society actors and private media institutions, including the forced closure of the headquarters of some political parties and private radio stations, which continue to undermine political inclusion, democratic participation and freedom of expression in the country and, in this context, restates its call for the restoration of the political and civic spaces in Guinea-Bissau;

5. Calls on the transitional authorities and military leadership to refrain from actions that may fuel political tension, undermine public confidence and compromise the credibility and inclusiveness of the political transition process; and strongly urges the military leaders of Guinea-Bissau to uphold the principle of constitutionalism and to refrain from meddling in the political affairs of the country;

6. Reiterates the importance of an inclusive national dialogue involving all political stakeholders, civil society, women and youth, aimed at fostering national reconciliation, political consensus and social cohesion ahead of the planned elections of December 2026 and urges the AU, ECOWAS, the United Nations and the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) to continue coordinating their actions in their engagements and  support  for the mediation efforts and the peaceful restoration of constitutional order in Guinea-Bissau; 

7. Underscores the importance of comprehensively addressing the structural root causes of the perennial political crises in Guinea-Bissau; 

8. Calls for the strengthening of the institutional independence and operational capacity of the National Electoral Commission (CNE) and the Supreme Court of Guinea-Bissau to ensure the successful organization of credible, transparent and inclusive electoral processes;

9. Takes note of the planned national population census scheduled for June 2026 and underscores the importance for the exercise to be conducted in a transparent, inclusive and credible manner;

10. Expresses concern over the deteriorating security and human rights situation, including incidents of politically motivated violence and intimidation; condemns the abduction and murder of political activist Vigário Balanta and calls for a transparent, independent and credible investigation aimed at bringing the perpetrators to justice;

11. Reiterates the need to accelerate the implementation of national initiatives for security sector reform aimed at professionalizing Guinea-Bissau defence and security institutions and strengthening civilian oversight and constitutional governance;

12. Underlines the need for enhanced international cooperation in combating transnational organized crime, in particular, drug trafficking;

13. Requests the AU Commission to continue sustained engagement with the authorities and all relevant stakeholders in Guinea-Bissau, including through the Office of the Special Envoy and in coordination with ECOWAS and other international partners;

14. Looks forward to the AU-ECOWAS joint assessment mission to engage relevant stakeholders and assess developments on the ground;

15. Reiterates the decision to undertake a fact-finding mission to Guinea-Bissau during the course of the year 2026; and

16. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

COMMENTS