ECOWAS leaders have at the end of a one day emergency Summit on Guinea, decided to suspend the country's military leaders from all meetings of ECOWAS at Heads of State and Ministerial levels, until constitutional order is restored back in Conakry. The decision was made by the Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS at their Extra-Ordinary Summit held in Abuja, Nigeria on Saturday. The President, Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya Jammeh was among leaders who attended the Abuja Summit which focused on the military take over in Guinea Conakry.

Upon his return to the country on Saturday evening, President Jammeh told reporters that the Summit has condemned the military regime in Conakry. He said the Summit has unanimously agreed that the Junta return the country to civilian rule by the end of 2009. The Gambian leader said ECOWAS would not do anything that would impact negatively on the innocent people but would do its utmost to see that constitutional order is restored in Guinea Conakry.

In this regard he said despite the suspension, ECOWAS leaders still appealed to the international community as well as donors to support the country and ensure that there is a smooth transition to civilian rule. According to a press communiqué, the Heads of State and Government decision is in accordance with the provisions of the 2001 Regional Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance which calls for zero tolerance for power obtained by unconstitutional means. The protocol stated that accession to power should only be through free, fair and transparent elections.

The Summit therefore urged the Ruling National Council for Democracy and Development (CNDD) to take immediate steps to restore constitutional order. West African leaders expressed their resolve to engage the military Junta in Guinea through constructive dialogue to expedite the country's transition to constitutional rule. In this regard the Summit proposed modalities for restoring the rule of law in Guinea Conakry and praised efforts of stakeholders in the Guinean political arena to establish a National Transitional Council, a legislative body comprising of civil and the military leaders that will work for the attainment of the objectives of returning the country to democracy through free, fair and transparent elections. The Transitional Prime Minister and members of the Junta in Guinea had said earlier that they will not contest the elections.

The regional block also condemned the subterranean support given to the Junta by some countries on the continent.

ECOWAS suspension of the French West African State followed that of the African Union and the European Union's decision not to engage the Junta, describing its ascent to power as unconstitutional.