BISSAU, Guinea-Bissau – A delegation from the West African regional bloc known as ECOWAS arrived in Guinea-Bissau on Monday for mediation talks with the leaders of a coup over the “complete restoration of constitutional order.”

The ECOWAS mission, led by its chairman and the President of Sierra Leone Julius Maada Bio, arrived as the military government – which seized power last Wednesday – banned all demonstrations, strikes and activities regarded as threat to peace and stability.

In a statement late Sunday, the military authorities also ordered public institutions and ministries to reopen.

Soldiers seized power in the West African nation three days after a closely contested presidential election which the two main contenders claim to have won.

During the coup Guinea-Bissau’s Presi

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