Bissau: In a sudden and dramatic turn of events, army officers in Guinea-Bissau have seized control of the country, deposing President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and suspending all electoral procedures just a day before the announcement of the presidential election results. The move has plunged the West African nation into political uncertainty and provoked immediate demands from opposition leaders calling for the release of the vote count and a restoration of democratic order.
The coup unfolded on the evening of November 26 when sustained gunfire erupted in the capital, Bissau, near the presidential palace and the National Electoral Commission headquarters. Soon after, a group of uniformed officers appeared on state television declaring they had taken “total control” under a new governing body, the High Military Command for the Restoration of National Security and Public Order. The military announced a curfew, the closure of borders, and the suspension of vote counting “until further notice.” President Embaló confirmed he had been removed from office and labeled the takeover a coup.
Opposition figures, including main challenger Fernando Dias, immediately condemned the military intervention, asserting that the seizure of power sought to nullify the will of the people. Dias emphasized that he and other opposition leaders had been poised to claim victory before the coup and called for the immediate resumption of electoral procedures. The political upheaval has sparked alarm both regionally and internationally, with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union (AU), and Portugal urging restraint, the release of detained officials, and a return to democratic processes.
The military, meanwhile, has sworn in General Horta Nta Na Man as transitional president, vowing to maintain governance until “order and stability” are restored. The junta justified its actions by claiming the takeover was necessary to prevent manipulation of the vote by “drug traffickers and corrupt politicians.” Despite these assurances, tensions remain high in the capital. Streets are largely empty, shops remain closed, and soldiers patrol key areas, leaving citizens anxious and uncertain about the future.
Guinea-Bissau has a long and turbulent history of political instability, with recurrent coups and contested elections marking decades of governance challenges. Analysts warn that without clear steps toward free and fair elections and political reconciliation, the country risks perpetuating its cycle of crisis. For now, the people of Guinea-Bissau remain in limbo, awaiting transparency on the presidential vote and clarity about who legitimately governs their nation. The coming days are critical as both domestic actors and international observers monitor the situation closely.