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ECOWAS troops deployed in Guinea-Bissau to restore order
The first wave of troops from the West African regional bloc – the economic community of West African states (ECOWAS) have landed in Guinea-Bissau to try to restore order after a coup.
The first 70 troops arrived Thursday afternoon at the Bissau airport from Burkina Faso. ECOWAS says it is sending about 600 troops in total in the coming days.
Guinea-Bissau underwent a coup last month, and the regional bloc is trying to help bring some stability to the nation.
Guinea-Bissau was just weeks away from holding a presidential runoff vote when a military junta arrested the election’s front-runner and the country’s interim leader. Both men later fled the country.
Politicians are moving ahead with a transitional government in Guinea-Bissau though the negotiations have been criticized by some for not being inclusive enough.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.