Guinea-Bissau is rocked by a new military coup. President Umaro Sissoco Embaló , a candidate for re-election in last Sunday's presidential election, has been arrested by the army .

Timeline of Events

The unrest began around midday on Wednesday, November 26, 2025. Gunfire rang out near the presidential palace in Bissau, the capital, sowing panic among residents who sought shelter.

According to multiple media sources, several high-ranking state officials have been apprehended:

1. President Umaro Sissoco Embaló .
2. The Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces.
3. General Mamadou Touré , Deputy Chief of Staff.
4. The Minister of the Interior.

A Tense Post-Election Context

This power grab comes amid heightened post-election tensions. For the past 48 hours, the camps of outgoing President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and independent candidate Fernando Dias da Costa (backed by the main opposition party) had each declared victory, even before the official results were announced. These premature claims exacerbated political tensions.

The Army Takes Power

Faced with this impasse, the army has once again burst onto the political scene.

In a statement read by military spokesman Denis N'Canha , it was announced:

1. The takeover of the country by a group of officers.
2. The appointment of a “high military command for the restoration of order” .
3. The suspension of the ongoing electoral process , implying the annulment of the presidential election results.
4. The suspension of programs in the media .

For his part, candidate Fernando Dias da Costa publicly urged the military to stay out of the electoral process.