The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Nigerian Government have strongly condemned the coup d’état that occurred in the Republic of Guinea Conakry, yesterday, describing the action as a clear violation of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.
Nigeria’s foreign ministry on Sunday said the putsch was a violation of the ECOWAS protocol to which Guinea is signatory to.
“The Nigerian government is saddened by the apparent coup d’etat that has taken place in the Republic of Guinea today, in clear violation of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance,” the ministry said in a statement.
“The government of Nigeria strongly condemns and rejects any unconstitutional change of government and therefore calls on those behind the coup to restore constitutional order without delay and protect lives and property.”
Also, in a tweet, UN secretary-general, António Guterres, also condemned “any takeover of the government by force of the gun.” He called for “the immediate release of President Alpha Condé.”
Meanwhile, demanding for the immediate return to constitutional order, Chair of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana, condemned the actio,n stating the demand of ECOWAS for the immediate and unconditional release of President Alpha Condé and others arrested.
Thelagostimes gathered that members of an elite military corp led by Mamady Doumbouya, a colonel, had opened fire on the presidential palace in the capital, Conakry, and taken President Alpha Condé into custody.
The military officials later said they had taken control of the French speaking West African country in an apparent coup.
The dissenting military official were believed to have staged the coup on the heels of a move by the parliament to increase the salaries of politicians while slashing the budget for security forces.