Guinea-Bissau Military Seizes Power in Latest West African Coup Following Disputed Elections

Soldiers patrol on the main road in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau

Military forces in Guinea-Bissau announced on state television Wednesday that they have taken control of the government, following reports of gunfire near the presidential palace just three days after national elections. The president informed French media that he had been deposed and taken into custody.

This incident represents the most recent in a series of coups across West Africa in recent years.

In a televised statement, spokesperson Dinis N'Tchama declared, "The High Military Command for the re-establishment of national and public order decides to immediately depose the president of the republic, to suspend, until new orders, all of the institutions of the republic of Guinea-Bissau."

N'Tchama stated that the military action was prompted by the "discovery of an ongoing plan" allegedly aimed at destabilizing the country through "manipulation of electoral results."

He claimed that the "scheme was set up by some national politicians with the participation of a well-known drug lord, and domestic and foreign nationals," though no specific details were provided.

The military announced the immediate suspension of the electoral process and media outlet activities, as well as the closure of all national borders.

Since gaining independence, Guinea-Bissau has experienced four successful coups and numerous attempts, including one reported just last month. The country has also developed into a significant transit point for drug trafficking between Latin America and Europe.

Presidential and legislative elections were conducted on Sunday. Both incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embalo and opposition candidate Fernando Dias claimed victory on Tuesday, despite official provisional results not being expected until Thursday.

Gunfire was reported around midday Wednesday near the presidential palace. An Associated Press journalist observed roads to the palace blocked off, with checkpoints staffed by heavily armed soldiers wearing masks.

A presidential palace official reported that armed individuals attempted to attack the building, resulting in an exchange of gunfire with security guards. Another official from the Interior Ministry confirmed hearing gunshots near the nearby National Electoral Commission. Both sources spoke anonymously as they were not authorized to comment publicly.

A prominent member of an international election observer group revealed that the election commission chief was arrested and the commission's office was sealed by military forces.

"The president has been speaking to people saying he's being held by the military," the observer group representative told the AP, speaking on condition of anonymity due to lack of authorization to comment publicly.

French news outlet Jeune Afrique quoted President Embalo stating he was arrested in what he described as a coup orchestrated by the army chief of staff. He indicated he was not subjected to violence.

"I have been deposed," Embalo told French television network France 24.

Embalo had been facing a legitimacy crisis, with opposition groups claiming his term had expired and refusing to recognize his presidential authority.

According to Guinea-Bissau's constitution, presidential terms last five years. Embalo initially took office in February 2020. The opposition maintained his term should have ended on February 27 this year, but the Supreme Court ruled it should continue until September 4.

The presidential election, however, was postponed until this month.

Military forces also arrested Embalo's rival Fernando Dias and Domingos Simoes Pereira, who leads the main opposition African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde, according to a statement the party posted on Facebook Wednesday.

Domingos Simoes Pereira, a former prime minister, was considered Embalo's primary challenger before he and his party were barred from the election after authorities claimed they failed to submit their application on time. He subsequently endorsed Dias in the election.

A United Nations official stated Wednesday that the organization was monitoring developments in Guinea-Bissau "with deep concern."

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres "appeals to all national stakeholders in Guinea-Bissau to exercise restraint and respect the rule of law," his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters.

In a joint statement, election observation missions from the African Union and regional bloc ECOWAS condemned a "blatant attempt to disrupt the democratic process" and called for restoration of "constitutional order."

They also demanded the immediate release of detained election officials.

The Popular Front, a civil society coalition, accused Embalo and the military of staging a "simulated coup" to prevent the release of election results and maintain power.

"This maneuver aims to prevent the publication of the electoral results scheduled for tomorrow, November 27," the group stated on Wednesday. They alleged that Embalo plans to appoint a new president and interim prime minister, then call for fresh elections in which he intends to participate as a candidate.

West Africa has experienced a wave of coups since 2020. Three landlocked nations in the region—Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso—are currently under military leadership that seized power by force, promising improved security against insurgent armed groups.

In neighboring Guinea, junta leader Gen. Mamadi Doumbouya overthrew the president in 2021, criticizing the previous government for breaking promises while committing to eliminate bad governance and corruption.

In Gabon, mutinous soldiers took control in 2023, shortly after the president was declared the election winner in a contest from which international observers were barred for the first time. In April, coup leader Gen. Brice Oligui Nguema was elected president.