Guinea-Bissau, a small West African nation, experienced a military takeover—the latest in a wave of coups across the continent. The coup unfolded during a recent presidential election on November 26th, suspending the constitution and imposing a curfew. President Umaro Sissoco Embaló is confirmed to be detained at the general-staff headquarters in Bissau, his whereabouts now secured by the military.
Since 2020, Africa has endured at least ten successful coups, including in Mali, Chad, Guinea, Sudan, Burkina Faso, Niger, Gabon, and now Guinea-Bissau. Just weeks ago, on October 12, Madagascar joined this troubling trend. These events highlight deep-rooted issues—weak institutions, leadership failures, and economic struggles—that are gripping the region. Notably, this is not Guinea-Bissau’s first coup; the country has faced at least nine since gaining independence in 1974.
Among those caught in the initial chaos was former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, who was stranded in Guinea-Bissau as head of an election observer mission. However, there has since been a critical development: Jonathan, alongside the other international election observers, has now been safely escorted to the airport and has left the country.
In a nation of just 2.2 million, this coup exposes a fragile state grappling with instability, nearly 50 years after independence, amid allegations of governance failures. The Nigerian Government has issued a strong statement, condemning the coup as a grave threat to democracy and regional stability, urging restraint, peaceful dialogue, and respect for the will of the people as expressed through the election, while warning that perpetrators will face consequences.
As the Guinea-Bissau military promises a transition, questions arise: Will this lead to reform or deepen the crisis? With the immediate concern for the safety of international observers, such as Jonathan, now resolved, the world watches closely. This remains a pivotal moment for Guinea-Bissau and the continent of Africa as a whole.
