The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has begun deploying military forces to Guinea-Bissau to “stabilize the country” that witnessed a failed coup attempt last February.

The group said in a statement that “The military force, which has been named (Mission to Support Stabilization in Guinea-Bissau), consists of approximately 600 soldiers from Nigeria, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, and their mission will be a year long.” One is renewable and will cover different parts of the country.

ECOWAS previously stationed forces in Guinea-Bissau from 2012 to 2020 to help “prevent military interference in politics and protect political leaders.”

Last February, Guinea-Bissau witnessed what has been described as an unidentified coup attempt, in which 11 people, including 4 civilians, were killed in a shootout between the leaders of the attempt. and security forces.

The government said that “the perpetrators of the coup attempt sought to assassinate President Omar Sissoko Embalo” and that they were “part of a well-funded and well-planned conspiracy.”

Since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974, Guinea-Bissau has experienced four successful coups and more than ten failed coup attempts.

In mid-May, President Omar Sissoko Embalo decided to dissolve parliament and hold early parliamentary elections on December 18 to end the political crisis in the country.