ECOWAS Defence Chiefs Dismiss Bribery Claims, Says allegations false, mission achieved key security objectives at Guinea-Bissau By Raymond Enoch
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff (CCDS) has strongly rejected allegations of bribery linked to its recent official mission to Guinea-Bissau, describing the claims as baseless, misleading and unsupported by any evidence.
In a statement issued from Freetown, Sierra Leone, on June 24, 2026, the regional military body dismissed media reports and social media publications suggesting that members of its delegation were either involved in or exposed to an attempted bribery scheme during a mission to Guinea-Bissau between June 19 and 23.
The CCDS stated unequivocally that no member of the delegation was approached with, offered, or participated in any form of bribery or improper inducement throughout the visit. It further stressed that neither the delegation nor the ECOWAS Stabilisation Support Mission in Guinea-Bissau (ESSMGB) received any complaint, report, or evidence relating to the allegations.
The defence chiefs said the reports appeared to be entirely unfounded and inconsistent with the facts surrounding the mission, which was undertaken to review critical security and stabilization efforts in the West African nation.
According to the statement, the CCDS drew attention to public clarifications issued by Guinea-Bissau’s Transitional National Council and the management of the Bissau Royal Hotel, where the delegation was lodged. Both institutions reportedly refuted the bribery claims and affirmed that no evidence existed to substantiate the allegations.
The hotel management also confirmed that no complaint of misconduct was received from any member of the ECOWAS delegation during their stay and that all official engagements were conducted in a normal and satisfactory manner.
Beyond dismissing the allegations, the CCDS highlighted the substantive outcomes of the mission, noting that the delegation successfully carried out consultations with Guinea-Bissau authorities and key stakeholders on the implementation of the revised mandate of the ECOWAS Stabilisation Support Mission.
The discussions focused on operational requirements of the mission, the planned drawdown and withdrawal process, as well as broader issues relating to peace, security and political stability in Guinea-Bissau.
Security analysts view the mission as part of ECOWAS’ continuing efforts to support democratic governance and regional stability in a country that has experienced periods of political uncertainty and institutional fragility.
The defence chiefs reiterated their commitment to professionalism, transparency, accountability and integrity in the discharge of ECOWAS responsibilities across the region. They warned against the spread of unverified information capable of undermining confidence in regional peace and security initiatives.
“The CCDS remains firmly committed to the principles of professionalism, integrity, transparency and accountability in the conduct of all ECOWAS activities,” the statement emphasized.
The regional military body also called on media organizations, commentators and stakeholders to uphold the highest standards of accuracy, fairness and responsibility when reporting on sensitive security matters, noting that misinformation could negatively affect ongoing stabilization efforts.
The CCDS concluded by expressing appreciation to the authorities of Guinea-Bissau, the leadership of the ESSMGB and other stakeholders whose cooperation facilitated the successful conduct of the mission.
The latest clarification comes amid heightened regional attention on security cooperation and democratic stability within West Africa, with ECOWAS institutions increasingly seeking to counter misinformation while reinforcing public confidence in their operations and decision-making processes.
