Guinea-Bissau has become the latest African nation to experience a military takeover. On Wednesday, gunshots were reported near the presidential office before a group of military officers appeared on state television, announcing they had seized power.
President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, who had been locked in a fierce political battle with the opposition, was arrested shortly after the coup. Both Embaló and opposition parties had claimed victory in the recent presidential election.
The small West African nation of 2.2 million people on the Atlantic coast has now followed a pattern seen across the continent: disputed elections, political unrest, youth dissatisfaction, and military interventions.
A Rising Trend of Coups in Africa
Since 2020, several African countries have experienced coups, often linked to contested elections and weak political institutions:
Mali (August 2020 and May 2021): Two coups toppled the government after protests over corruption and insecurity. Col. Assimi Goita first installed a transitional civilian government, then took power himself, postponing elections indefinitely. Mali now leads a group of military-run West African states, including Burkina Faso and Niger.
Chad (April 2021): After the death of President Idris Déby, his son Mahamat Idris Déby took control, extending his family’s 30-year rule. He later held elections criticized as rigged and cracked down on opposition figures, including a 20-year sentence for former Prime Minister Succes Masra.
Guinea (September 2021): Soldiers removed President Alpha Condé after he changed the constitution to run for a third term. Junta leader Mamady Doumbouya plans to run in December elections after a referendum allowed military leaders to stand for office.
Sudan (October 2021): The military, led by Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, deposed Omar al-Bashir, who ruled for 26 years. Power-sharing with paramilitary leader Muhammad Dangalo later erupted into conflict, described by the UN as catastrophic.
Burkina Faso (January & September 2022): Two coups ousted presidents on the grounds of worsening security. Current leader Cap. Ibrahim Traoré dissolved the independent electoral commission in July.
Niger (July 2023): Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum, ending a rare democratic transition. ECOWAS threatened military action, but Niger allied with Mali and Burkina Faso in a breakaway Sahel bloc.
Gabon (August 2023): Soldiers seized power after President Ali Bongo ran for a third term. His cousin, Brice Oligui Nguema, became the new leader and later won a presidential election in April.
Madagascar (October 2025): Protests over water shortages and power outages escalated into a military takeover after former President Andry Rajoelina refused to step down.
Guinea-Bissau’s Political History
Guinea-Bissau has a long history of coups. President Embaló had been aiming to become the first leader to secure a second term in the country’s volatile political environment. The military’s intervention continues a trend of instability in West Africa.
Experts warn that repeated coups in the region may slow democratic progress and exacerbate social and economic challenges. The international community is watching closely to see whether Guinea-Bissau will return to civilian rule or join other nations under military governance.