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A group of military officers announced they have taken control of Guinea-Bissau just a day before official results from a highly contested presidential election were expected. The officers declared on national television that they had removed President Umaro Sissoco Embalo from power, suspended the electoral process, closed borders, and imposed a curfew. In a subsequent interview with France 24, Embalo stated, “I have been deposed.”
The military established “The High Military Command for the Restoration of Order” and announced it would govern the country for the foreseeable future. It remains unclear whether Embalo is in custody, though two security sources reported he is being held at the army chief of staff’s office.
Later, Embalo’s top challenger in the election, Fernando Dias, appeared in a video message asserting his safety and freedom, claiming armed men tried to detain him. Dias also alleged that former Prime Minister Domingos Simoes Pereira, who Embalo beat in the 2019 runoff, had been detained. Dias dismissed the coup as a false attempt to manipulate the election results, calling it “a simulation.”
The African Union and ECOWAS issued a joint statement expressing serious concern over the coup, noting that officials involved in the electoral process have also been detained and demanding their immediate release. Guinea-Bissau, a small coastal nation situated between Senegal and Guinea, has a long history of political instability and is known as a key transit point for drug trafficking aimed at Europe.
It is not clear if the military commands the support of all of Guinea-Bissau’s diverse armed factions or if they control the entire nation with its population of around two million. The army cited a purported destabilization plot involving domestic politicians and international drug traffickers as the reason for their takeover, accusing these groups of trying to influence the election outcome.
Gunfire was reported near key government sites, including the electoral commission, presidential palace, and interior ministry, before the announcement. Witnesses described a tense scene with scenes of panic across the city, though no casualties have been confirmed. The U.S. embassy issued a security alert indicating military checkpoints and tear gas deployment, warning that sporadic gunfire might continue.
The results from Sunday’s vote, which was closely contested, were expected to be announced on Thursday. Both candidates, Embalo and Dias, claimed victory after the first round. Embalo aimed to become the first president in three decades to win consecutive terms, but the situation deteriorated amidst the unrest. Embalo’s spokesperson alleged that gunmen attacked the electoral commission to prevent the results from being announced, though no evidence was provided.
Former president Pereira, who lost to Embalo in 2019, denied any involvement. He recounted that Dias was in a meeting when gunfire erupted, but security sources later reported Dias had been detained. Portugal called on Guinea-Bissau’s authorities to restore normal operations and ensure the election process proceeds smoothly while urging all parties to avoid violence.
Guinea-Bissau has experienced at least nine coups and attempted coups since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974. Embalo claims he has survived three prior attempts to overthrow him, though critics accuse him of manufacturing crises to justify crackdowns. The country faced a significant unrest in December 2023, leading Embalo to dissolve parliament. The latest unrest follows an October arrest of officers accused of planning to topple the government.
The tense pre-election atmosphere was marked by accusations from the opposition that Embalo’s term had effectively ended, with the country’s drug trade reportedly thriving — perhaps more than ever, according to a 2022 report — with authorities seizing over two tons of cocaine from a plane in Bissau last year.
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