Guinea-Bissau, a small West African nation with a long history of political instability, once again found itself in the global spotlight after a sudden military takeover halted the country’s electoral process. The incident has triggered widespread criticism across West Africa and renewed calls for a return to constitutional order.
The crisis began on Wednesday when gunshots rang out near Guinea-Bissau’s electoral commission headquarters. The shooting, which lasted for about an hour, prompted immediate concern, though no casualties were recorded. Shortly after the gunfire subsided, a group of military officials appeared on national television to announce that they had taken control of the government “until further notice.”
Their declaration included the removal of President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, the suspension of the ongoing electoral process, the closure of national borders, and the imposition of a strict curfew. The development drew swift condemnation from regional governments, ECOWAS, and international observer missions.
Nigeria described the takeover as a violation of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, warning that the act undermines long-standing regional commitments to constitutional rule. The African Union and ECOWAS election observers called the coup an attempt to derail the country’s progress toward political stability. Ghana, expressing “profound concern,” criticized the move as a blatant effort to overturn the will of the Guinean people.
A Country Long Marked by Coups
This latest political upheaval is far from an isolated event. Since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974, Guinea-Bissau has struggled with chronic instability fueled by clashes between military factions, fragile institutions, and power struggles between political elites.
The nation’s first coup occurred in 1980 when President Luís Cabral was ousted in a bloodless military takeover led by his then–Prime Minister, João Bernardo Vieira. Subsequent years saw multiple alleged coup plots, arrests, executions of senior officers, and a civil-military conflict in 1998–1999 that ended with Vieira’s removal.
Additional coups followed in 2003, 2009, 2012, and 2022. Even in times of relative calm, tensions remained. In 2023, President Embaló dissolved the country’s parliament, accusing security agencies of plotting to remove him. By 2025, the military again announced arrests over a foiled coup plot—signaling that political divisions were still deeply entrenched.
Coup Interrupts the Announcement of Election Results
The timing of Wednesday’s coup added to the political drama already unfolding in the country. The presidential election, held on Sunday, was described by observers as largely peaceful with high voter turnout. Results were scheduled to be announced on Thursday.
The race had been particularly tense. Incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, candidate of Madem-G15, was up against Fernando Dias of the Party for Social Renewal (PRS). Both candidates prematurely declared victory even before official results were released.
Dias confidently stated, “We have won the presidential race. We will not have a runoff,” while representatives of President Embaló’s campaign insisted he had won outright and that a second round was unnecessary.
The military’s intervention stopped the official announcement of results altogether.
Embalo’s Controversial Bid for a Second Term
Before the coup, President Embaló was seeking to become the first Guinean leader in three decades to secure a second consecutive term. He announced his reelection bid in March despite mounting political tension and opposition claims that his term had already expired.
According to critics, Embaló’s first official term ended in February. However, Guinea-Bissau’s constitution allows a president to serve two consecutive five-year terms, and Embaló planned to use that provision to pursue another mandate. He argued that his initiatives aimed at security, economic reform, and political stability required more time to achieve lasting impact.
The opposition strongly contested his legitimacy throughout the year, further intensifying national instability.
The Oldest Political Party Was Barred From Contesting
Another factor fueling tension ahead of the election was the exclusion of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC)—the country’s oldest and historically most influential political party.
In September, PAIGC was disqualified from the presidential race over allegations that it failed to submit its candidate list 72 hours before the registration deadline. Opposition figures insisted the disqualification was politically motivated, claiming that judicial and electoral mechanisms were being manipulated to favor Embaló.
This marked the first time since independence that PAIGC was prevented from participating in a national presidential election. The party, led by former Prime Minister Domingos Pereira, subsequently endorsed opposition candidate Fernando Dias.
A Deep Colonial History With Lasting Influence
Guinea-Bissau was one of Portugal’s West African colonies, alongside Cape Verde and São Tomé and Príncipe. Portuguese traders established coastal posts as early as the 15th century, though meaningful colonial control did not extend inland until the late 19th and early 20th centuries during the so-called “pacification” campaigns.
The struggle for independence was long and fierce, led primarily by PAIGC’s armed movement. The country gained independence in the 1960s–70s era of anti-colonial uprisings across the continent, with Portugal formally recognizing Guinea-Bissau’s sovereignty in 1974.
This colonial legacy still shapes the nation’s language, institutions, and political structures, even as instability overshadows its historical and cultural depth.