ECOWAS, Guinea-Bissau's military discuss release of detainees, transition timeline

African leaders from the regional bloc ECOWAS met with Guinea-Bissau's military government on Saturday to discuss the release of detainees and the transition to constitutional rule.

Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio, currently holding ECOWAS's rotating chairmanship, and Senegal President Bassirou Diomaye Faye led the talks, which also included Horta Inta-A, transitional president of Guinea-Bissau.

According to a source close to the country’s foreign ministry, the discussions focused on achieving swift progress toward restoring constitutional order.

During their visit, Bio, Faye, and their delegations met with opposition figure Domingos Simoes Pereira, who has been detained at police headquarters since the coup and was barred by the Supreme Court from running in the upcoming November elections. They also visited opposition candidate Fernando Dias, who had run against President Umaro Sissoco Embalo and is seeking asylum in Nigeria's embassy.

In late December, the military government released six political opposition members linked to Pereira, and three more were freed on January 8. 

"The ECOWAS delegations had requested the unconditional release of all political prisoners, arguing that their detention hinders any climate of trust necessary for resolving the crisis", a member of the military's governing body, the High Military Command, speaking on condition of anonymity.

However, Guinea-Bissau authorities favor a gradual release of prisoners without setting a firm timeline, the source added. 

The duration of the transition period was another point of contention during the talks. While the military government insists that a "security period" is necessary to stabilize the country before elections, it argues that one year is insufficient.

ECOWAS mediators continue to push for a short, structured, and transparent transition, with a clear electoral timetable. 

The talks also focused on the possibility of deploying an ECOWAS standby force should the situation deteriorate, although local authorities in Bissau view such a move as a potential threat to the country's sovereignty.