News:
May 10, 2026
A member of the 6th Community Parliament from Guinea-Bissau, Manuel Nascimento Lopes, has stated that the challenges facing West African member states originate from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission – not the bloc’s legislative arm.
“Here as a Parliament, we do our job as a legislative body. Sometimes we even exceed what we are supposed to do in the interest of ECOWAS member states. But the Commission needs a perfect reform,” Lopes said in an interview.
He did not hold back on criticism, pointing to what he called widespread wrongdoing within the Commission.
“There is a lot of wrongdoing at the Commission, and we have to say it as it is. Why the nepotism? You cannot favour bigger member states at the expense of smaller ones in the bloc,” he said.
‘We are all West Africans’
“We are all West Africans. There is no smaller or bigger member state. I am appealing to the Authority of Heads of State to do something in favour of Guinea-Bissau. Our people are suffering. Economic activities are not favouring families out there – they are facing hardship. It is difficult to get one square meal a day. What have we done wrong to face such difficulties?”
When it was suggested that ECOWAS could not be blamed for election observation issues – that the body’s role is only to observe – Lopes pushed back.
“We went for elections. Someone won the elections. Why is it that ECOWAS did not stand for the winner to take power?” he asked.
Comparing Benin and Guinea-Bissau
He cited the example of Benin, where an attempted coup has since been largely forgotten.
“What is the difference between Benin and Guinea-Bissau? Is it because Benin is bigger than Guinea-Bissau?”
Lopes also accused Senegal’s president of creating a major obstacle in his own selfish interest.
“I believe President Tinubu would have taken action for the junta not to continue in power, but Senegal frustrated it. We all know it – all West Africans know that the obstacle was created in Senegal. Today it is not an issue.”
‘The Commission speaks about diplomacy but will not take action’
“What I am asking is: what is the Commission going to do – not only for Guinea-Bissau but for Mali? At the joint committee meeting of Political Affairs and Gender, I indicated that the Commission only speaks about diplomacy but will not take action.”
He also questioned the presence of 700 ECOWAS military personnel stationed in Guinea-Bissau.
“What are they doing? If the ECOWAS Parliament had the mandate, they would have been given the green light to establish democracy, and the newly elected president would be given the mandate of power.”
Nepotism in West African politics
“Let us ask ourselves: what has happened in The Gambia? Before we know it, there is a lot of nepotism in West African politics. Some presidents favour their friends. We do not know why – but that is not democracy. We should all consider ourselves equal. We are all member states.”
During the joint committee meeting, Lopes said he made a clear remark: “The ECOWAS Commission has to take up its full responsibility in solving the problems that West African member states are facing.”
Concerns over Mali, South Africa, and African unity
“Today we spoke about Mali and the issue of South Africa – the attacks on West African citizens in South Africa. We are not happy with that. That is not a good example of the African unity we are preaching. This is not what the late President Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and Gnassingbé Eyadéma fought for.”
“They struggled for Africa and West Africa to blossom, to have ECOWAS member states. So today, if they see things happening in Mali, Guinea-Bissau and South Africa, it is not a good sign for the future generation.”
A son of a former soldier
“For me, I have said: I am the son of a former soldier, and I will not go against them. But they do not have to involve themselves in politics, and they do not have to let politics dictate to them in doing wrong things. They are there to defend the country, defend the nation and the people – not to defend the individual interest of a politician.”
Appeal to Sierra Leone’s president
“I am appealing to the chair of the Authority of Heads of State, the president of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio, to do something to alleviate the suffering of the citizens of Guinea-Bissau. They say elections will happen in December 2026, but I can guarantee that it will not happen.”
“Because all the promises that the CNT gave, they have not complied with one. So what good should we expect from them? They were supposed to get a national unity government that would include the opposition. That has not been accomplished. They should show me just one paragraph of their promise,” the exiled MP lamented.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com