Lisbon, June 25, 2026 (Lusa) - The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) affirmed on Thursday the integrity of its most recent official mission to Guinea-Bissau, asserting that the allegations of attempted bribery are “false, unfounded and devoid of any factual basis”.

A delegation of the organisation’s Chiefs of Defence Staff (CCDS) visited Guinea-Bissau between 19 June and 23 June to assess the implementation of the revised mandate of the Stabilisation Support Mission in that country, as clarified in a statement issued on Thursday.

The document, published today on official channels, takes stock of the “success” of the mission regarding the military contingent stationed in Bissau to ensure stability, yet it begins by affirming that the delegation’s visit remained entirely free of any bribery allegations.

In its final statement, the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Staff notes that it “has taken note of reports in the media and posts on social media alleging that members of the delegation were involved in, or were the target of, an attempted bribe”.

The Committee “categorically rejects these allegations, considering them to be entirely false, unfounded and devoid of any factual basis”, and said that “throughout the mission, every member of the delegation maintained full integrity, declined any improper offers, and engaged solely in ethical conduct”.

It added that “no complaint, report or evidence relating to such allegations was presented to the delegation, to the ECOWAS Stabilisation Support Mission in Guinea-Bissau” or to the hotel where the military leaders were staying.

The matter centres on posts on social media and a report by RDP-África, which various media outlets picked up, claiming that someone linked to the Guinean transitional government had placed 15 million CFA francs (around €22,000) in the hotel room of an ECOWAS mission member.

The National Transitional Council, the body replacing the Guinean parliament following the military coup of 26 November 2025, reacted immediately to the report by the Portuguese public radio station, stating that “the claims are nothing more than a crude exercise in pure speculation”.

In a statement, the National Transitional Council described the report as “low-quality, militant and mercenary journalism, identical to that which in the past has already justified the expulsion and closure of RTP in the country”.

The statement targets the Portuguese journalist who authored the piece, Paula Borges, and states that the Guinean state will bring legal proceedings against her.

When questioned by Lusa, the CNT clarified that the legal proceedings will be brought in “the country where the offence took place”.

Lusa also contacted the journalist in question and the News Department of the Portuguese public radio station, both of whom preferred not to comment on the Transition Council’s statement.

*** Lusa’s bureau in Guinea-Bissau has been suspended since August following the government’s expulsion of representatives from Portuguese media organisations. Coverage is currently being provided remotely *** HFI/ADB // ADB.

Lusa