A mission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will on Thursday visit Guinea which has been gripped by a military coup, according to a communique issued late Wednesday.

The bloc also decided to suspend the membership of Guinea and called for the immediate restoration of civil rule in the country.

“The authority expresses deep concern over the political developments in the Republic of Guinea following the coup d’etat of September 5, 2021 and their consequences for regional peace and stability,” the communique said.

The regional bloc demanded the immediate restoration of civilian rule in Guinea, adding that the “defense and security forces should maintain a constitutional posture.”

The communique was issued after a virtual meeting of the organisation, convened by ECOWAS chairman Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to discuss the political developments in Guinea.

The communique said the visit of the ECOWAS mission would be led by Ghanaian foreign minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey with representatives from Nigeria, Burkina Faso, and the ECOWAS Commission.

It reaffirmed its strong opposition to any political change by unconstitutional means and condemned, in the strongest terms, the coup in Guinea.

On Sunday, Mamady Doumbouya, a lieutenant-colonel, announced that his forces had arrested Guinea’s President Alpha Conde and dissolved the government and national institutions.

(Xinhua/NAN)