ECOWAS received with much concern the disturbing news of the coup d’état in 
Mauritania against the democratically-elected government of the Islamic 
Republic of Mauritania.

ECOWAS condemns the coup d’état which is totally out of step with the current 
democratization process in Africa.

The ECOWAS region has suffered untold hardships and retrogression over the 
past decade as a result of military coup d’état.

The coup d’état in Mauritania is a major blow against democracy, respect for 
rule of law and human rights and the inalienable rights of the Mauritanian 
people to freely elect a government of their choice.

ECOWAS joins the African Union, the United Nations and European Union and the 
wider international community in calling for the immediate return of the 
military to their barracks and the unconditional re-instatement of the 
democratically-elected government.