UN Secretary-General Ant贸nio Guterres condemned the military coup in Guinea-Bissau that took place just days after national elections, saying that it gravely violates constitutional order and democratic principles. The African Union Commission similarly condemned the coup, while the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)聽suspended Guinea-Bissau from the organization’s decision-making bodies until there is a full restoration of constitutional order.
The presidential election, pitting incumbent Umaro Sissoko Embal贸 against his main rival Fernando Dias, took place on Nov. 23. Three days later, both Embal贸 and Dias declared victory before the release of official results. The military then announced聽that it had taken “total control”聽of the country in the name of a “High Military Command for the Restoration of Order,” just a day before the National Elections Commission was scheduled to release the official results.
Embal贸 was arrested at his presidential office ahead of the military announcement. On Nov. 27, Maj-Gen.聽Horta Nta Na Man was sworn in as transitional president for a one-year term after the military formally removed Embal贸 from his position. The ousted Embal贸 later arrivedin Senegal, with Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko calling the military coup a “sham.”
This聽latest military takeover聽reflects a pattern of instability in Guinea-Bissau聽since the country gained independence from Portugal in 1974. It follows a聽long string聽of coups or coup聽attempts,聽most recently in聽2023.
Guinea-Bissau also ranks first among African countries in the cocaine trade. Experts have argued that “the deep-rooted involvement of Guinea-Bissau’s political-military elite in this illicit market has been a critical factor driving Guinea-Bissau’s repeated cycles of political turmoil.”聽In his inaugural speech, transitional president Nta Na Man justified the military takeover as necessary to聽thwart a plot by “narco-traffickers”聽to destabilize the country.
From JURIST, Nov. 29. Used with permission.
Note: Government efforts to crack down on the narco trade are believed to have prompted previous coups聽d’etat in聽Guinea-Bissau.
See our last reports聽on the coups d’etat and consolidating dictatorships in West Africa.
Map: PCL
