Guinea-Bissau: Ngozi Ukaeje praises the professionalism of ECOWAS stabilization mission forces

Ambassador Dr Ngozi Ukaeje, Resident Representative of the President of the ECOWAS Commission (RRPC) and Head of Mission in Guinea-Bissau, described the personnel of the ECOWAS Mission in Guinea-Bissau (ESSMGB) as "diplomatic and military professionals," according to a statement released by APO Group on behalf of ECOWAS. The statement was made on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, during a courtesy visit by the Force Commander, Brigadier General Danjuma Ribah Dantani, accompanied by several senior officers, at the ECOWAS headquarters in Bissau. Newly introduced officers include Senegalese Colonel Nicholas Sambou, appointed Deputy Force Commander, as well as the Nigerian and Ghanaian contingent commanders and their deputies. General Dantani explained that the meeting is part of the force headquarters' traditions, aimed at formally presenting the new officers to the RRPC/HOM. He also provided an update on administrative and operational issues concerning the contingents. Dr Ukaeje urged the contingent commanders to adapt their internal training programs to support the Guinea-Bissau National Defense Forces ahead of the upcoming referendum and legislative elections. These electoral deadlines represent a stability test for a West African country marked by recurring political tensions in recent years. The presence of the ECOWAS mission aims to secure this process in a regional context where the organization seeks to demonstrate its capacity to support democratic transitions. The multinational composition of the force -- Senegal, Nigeria, Ghana -- illustrates the pooling of West African military resources in the face of Bissau-Guinean institutional fragilities.