ECOWAS Chair and President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio, has held direct talks with the military leadership of Guinea-Bissau, urging them to restore constitutional order without delay.

President Bio met Major-General Horta Inta-a and the junta leadership in Bissau on Monday, December 1, 2025. Officials described the meeting as constructive, with discussions centered on guiding the country back to democratic governance following ongoing political instability.

He was joined by:

• Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission
• Leonardo Santos Simão, UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel
• Alhaji Timothy Musa Kabba, Sierra Leone’s Foreign Minister and Chair of the ECOWAS Executive Council

The high-level mission was in line with a directive issued by an extraordinary session of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council, which tasked President Bio with leading efforts to secure the junta’s commitment to a full transition back to constitutional civilian rule.

Engagement With Guinea-Bissau’s Electoral Commission

During the visit, the delegation also met with the Guinea-Bissau Electoral Commission.
The Commission’s Chair and members briefed President Bio on:

• The current electoral landscape
• Preparations for upcoming polls
• Steps being taken to stabilize democratic processes under military oversight

The talks form part of a wider regional strategy to prevent further democratic backsliding and maintain peace and stability within West Africa, following a wave of coups in recent years.