The country’s National Electoral Commission has stated they were “unable to conclude the electoral process” days after the African Union (AU) issued a strong condemnation of the November 26 military coup hours before the results were supposed to be declared.

In a statement, the AU Commission Chairperson, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, reiterated the body’s “zero tolerance and unequivocal rejection of any unconstitutional change of government,” while calling for the immediate release of President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and all detained officials.

Earlier, a group of army officers announced the suspension of the country’s electoral process, declaring that they were taking control “until further notice.”