The armed forces of Guinea-Bissau announced on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, that they have seized “total control” of the country, deposing President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and suspending the constitution just days after a contentious presidential election. The move, which followed reports of heavy gunfire in the capital Bissau, was immediately condemned by regional and continental bodies as a blatant disruption of the democratic process.

In a statement read on state television, a military spokesperson, Dinis N'Tchama, declared the formation of a “High Military Command for the Restoration of National Security and Public Order,” which would assume all state powers until further notice. The military junta cited an alleged plot by politicians and a “well-known drug baron” to destabilize the nation by manipulating election results as justification for its intervention. All borders were sealed, a nationwide curfew was imposed, and media activities were suspended.

The takeover occurred before the National Electoral Commission could announce the official provisional results of the November 23 presidential and legislative elections, which were expected on Thursday, November 27. Both the incumbent, President Embaló, and his main rival, Fernando Dias da Costa, had prematurely claimed victory, escalating political tensions in the chronically unstable nation.

Regional Condemnation and Continental Implications

The African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) issued a swift joint statement, expressing deep concern over the military takeover and the reported arrests of election officials. The statement deplored the “blatant attempt to disrupt the democratic process” and called on the armed forces to release all detained officials and restore constitutional order immediately. The observer missions noted with regret that the coup announcement came shortly after both leading candidates had assured them of their willingness to accept the people's will.

For Kenya and the wider East African region, the coup in Guinea-Bissau serves as another alarming indicator of democratic backsliding on the continent. Kenya has consistently voiced its opposition to unconstitutional changes of government. President William Ruto has recently led calls for the AU to impose more severe punishments on coup plotters to deter such actions. The events in Bissau will amplify these concerns in Nairobi, reinforcing the need for a united African stance against military interventions that threaten the principles of governance and stability enshrined in the AU's Agenda 2063.

A History of Instability and Narco-Politics

Guinea-Bissau, a nation of about 2 million people, has been trapped in a cycle of political fragility since its independence from Portugal in 1974, experiencing at least four successful coups and numerous other attempts. This persistent instability has crippled its development, leaving it among the world's poorest countries. The World Bank projected a GDP per capita of approximately $1,130 for 2025 and forecast that 41.2% of the population would live in extreme poverty.

The country’s political turmoil is deeply intertwined with its role as a major transit hub for cocaine trafficked from Latin America to Europe. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has previously raised alarms, with some observers labeling it Africa's first “narco-state,” where the value of drug trafficking could exceed the national GDP. Widespread corruption among government and military officials has allowed trafficking networks to flourish, further undermining state institutions and the rule of law. The military junta's claim of thwarting a plot involving a “drug lord” highlights the persistent and corrosive influence of narcotics on the nation's politics.

As of Thursday morning, November 27, President Embaló was reportedly arrested and detained by the military. The situation in Bissau remains tense and uncertain. The international community, led by the AU and ECOWAS, faces the critical challenge of mediating a return to constitutional rule in a country that has become a flashpoint for the broader struggle between democracy and military authoritarianism in Africa.