Amid a pattern of regional coups, military takeover in Guinea-Bissau raises international concern

Human Rights Research Center
8 hours ago
4 min read

December 5, 2025

HRRC implores to the international community to give urgent and appropriate weight to the unstable governance situation in Guinea-Bissau following the recent military takeover and seizure of election materials and results. Priority should be given to restoration of constitutional order, prevention of further democratic backsliding, and targeted support for regional mediation efforts.

Over the course of the last two weeks, a succession of events in Guinea Bissau has led to the nation being temporarily suspended from ECOWAS, a community of 12 West Africa States dedicated to promoting economic integration across the region. ECOWAS, or the Economic Community of West African States, was formed by 15 West African nations in 1975, but now numbers 12 countries after the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from the body in January 2025, following successful military takeovers in these countries.

On November 23rd, presidential elections were held in Guinea Bissau. Just three days later, before a clear conclusion of the election results were decided, a military takeover of the government took place. During the takeover, soldiers broke into the electoral commission headquarters, seized ballots and vote tallies, and destroyed the servers storing the election results. The results of the poll were expected to be announced just a day later.

In the aftermath, incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and opposition candidate Fernando Dias da Costa, both claimed victory in the elections, fueling further confusion. Embaló’s location could not be accounted for on the day of the takeover, though he later had told the French-language African publication Jeune Afrique that he had been arrested by troops that day. Embaló subsequently fled to the Republic of Congo’s capital, Brazzaville. Da Costa, meanwhile, has fled to Nigeria, which offered the opposition candidate protection in the face of an “imminent threat to his life”.

The very next day, General Horta Inta-A was proclaimed as a transitional president for the duration of a year. General Horta Inta-A has since installed a new government consisting of former allies of Embaló.

The political opposition has demanded protests against the takeover and demand the release of election results, a demand echoed by ECOWAS. A few days ago, the electoral commission said the following: "we are not in material and logistic conditions to follow [through with] the electoral process".

There is suspicion at the source of the takeover, from potentially —although analysts say unlikely — external influence by Russia or France, to the takeover being staged as a means for the incumbent president, Embaló, to hold on to power for a period longer than that allowed by their constitutional limit of 5 years. This five year limit was reached on February 27th, but Embaló was allowed to stay on as president until September 4th, in a decision by Guinea Bissau’s Supreme Court.

Embaló’s accounts of being detained during the takeover have raised suspicions, especially as he was able to communicate his detainment to media as the takeover was happening, and prior to the military televising the takeover. Both presidential candidates deny responsibility for the military takeover.

The takeover occurred only a few days after the ECOWAS election observer mission met with the presidential candidates, who had pledged to respect the election results. ECOWAS announced the day after the takeover they would withhold the nation’s decision making powers in the international organization, until a pathway to restoration of constitutional order had taken place.

To aid in mediating for this goal, ECOWAS has sent a second delegation to Guinea-Bissau. – less than a year after a previous ECOWAS mission was bearing a roadmap towards “inclusive and peaceful elections” for the now disrupted 2025 polls.

Glossary

Ballot(s) - the piece of paper used to record a person's vote.
Delegation - a body of delegates or representatives; a deputation.
Economic integration - the process where multiple countries agree to reduce trade barriers and coordinate economic policies to facilitate trade, boost cooperation, and create a more cohesive economic space.
ECOWAS - Economic Community of West African States; a regional organization of 15 West African countries promoting economic integration.
Election observer mission - a group of independent international observers monitors the electoral process in order to critically assess the electoral process on the basis of international standards and the national legislation of the host country.
External influence - the impact of outside factors, ideas, or forces on a culture, society, or demographic trend.
Incumbent - The current holder of a political office.
International organization: institution drawing membership from at least three states, having activities in several states, and whose members are held together by a formal agreement.
Constitutional order - A system of government that operates according to a country's constitution and established laws.
Electoral commission - The official body responsible for organizing, managing, and overseeing elections.
Fortnight - A period of two weeks (14 days).
Jeune Afrique - A French-language news magazine focused on African affairs.
Poll: the process of voting in an election.
Republic of Congo - A country in Central Africa; distinct from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Takeover (coup d'état) - A sudden, illegal seizure of government power, typically by military force.
Transitional president - A temporary leader appointed to govern during a period of political change or constitutional crisis.

References

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Amid a pattern of regional coups, military takeover in Guinea-Bissau raises international concern

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