A group of army officers announced today, Wednesday (11/26/2025), that they have seized power in Guinea Bissau, the small country in West Africa that is prone to coups. Early in the day, various reports spoke of shooting at key points in the capital, until the country’s president himself confirmed to a weekly newspaper that he had been arrested.
The officers stated that they had formed the supreme military command to restore order and that they would be responsible for the destinies of the nation until further notice. The military action took place a day after the National Electoral Commission announced the first results of the presidential elections, which witnessed a close competition between President Omar Sissoko Embalo and his main opponent, Fernando Dias. They both took credit for the victory.
Gunfire was heard near the CEN headquarters, the presidential palace, and the Ministry of Interior, according to eyewitnesses. In addition, uniformed men in combat suits took control of the main artery leading to the Army General Staff headquarters, where the military read a statement announcing the coup.
Opponents were also arrested
In the document, the coup plotters claimed to have “complete control over the country” and announced the suspension of the electoral process. According to witnesses contacted by EFE in Bissau, the country’s capital, residents in that area fled in panic to the peripheral neighborhoods, trying to protect themselves. Masked soldiers closed various streets, including those surrounding the Portuguese Embassy, to prevent the passage of political leaders who might try to take refuge in that legation.
French African Weekly Young Africa It was published that Embalo himself confirmed that he was arrested at noon in his office. According to the newspaper, the outgoing president confirmed that no act of violence was committed against him during this “coup,” which, in his words, was orchestrated by the Chief of the General Staff of the Army. Opponents Fernando Dias and Domingos Simões Pereira were also arrested.
Sunday’s elections, whose interim results are expected to appear on Thursday, November 27, were characterized by the exclusion of prominent leaders from office. Guinea Bissau has witnessed four coups since its independence from Portugal in 1974, in addition to a series of coup attempts.
DZC (Reuters, EFE, AFP, Jeune Afrique)