Political tensions in Guinea-Bissau have surged as the country’s military announced the arrest of several senior officers accused of plotting a coup, just one day before the official start of the highly anticipated general election campaign. The attempted coup, which the armed forces say was foiled on Thursday, October 30, 2025, comes as the West African nation prepares for legislative and presidential elections scheduled for November 23, 2025—a contest already fraught with controversy, disqualifications, and deep political divisions.
General Mamadu Ture Kuruma, the deputy chief of staff of Guinea-Bissau’s armed forces, revealed at a press conference on Friday, November 1, that the military had thwarted what he described as an “attempt to subvert the constitutional order.” According to Kuruma, the plot was orchestrated by Brigadier General Dahaba Nawalna, director of a military training school, with the support of other high-ranking officers including Commanders Domingos Nhanke and Mario Midana. The officers were reportedly arrested at their homes in the capital, Bissau, though Kuruma declined to specify the total number of those detained or the precise details of their alleged actions.
“This sad episode, which involves some general and senior officers of our Armed Forces, jeopardises the peace and stability so desired for socio-economic development and the attraction of foreign investment,” the General Staff of the armed forces said in a statement, as reported by the BBC. The timing of the arrests—just a day before the launch of the election campaign—has heightened anxieties in a country with a long history of coups and political turmoil.
President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, who came to power in 2020, addressed the nation following a cabinet meeting on Thursday, October 31. “No disorder will be tolerated,” Embalo declared, according to Reuters, adding that the government had “taken all necessary measures to ensure the safety of each candidate during this campaign.” These remarks came amid mounting concerns over the safety and integrity of the electoral process, especially as the country’s main opposition parties have been excluded from the ballot.
The election campaign officially kicked off on Saturday, November 2, with around 860,000 voters set to choose among 12 presidential candidates, including Embalo himself and former president Jose Mario Vaz. Fourteen parties will contest the 102 seats in parliament, but for the first time since independence, the historically dominant African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) is absent from the ballot. The PAIGC, along with the Pai Terra Ranka coalition led by Embalo’s chief rival Domingos Simoes Pereira, was disqualified after the Supreme Court ruled that their official applications were filed too late in October 2025.
This unprecedented exclusion has dramatically reshaped the electoral landscape. The PAIGC played a central role in leading Guinea-Bissau to independence from Portugal in 1974 and has long been a fixture in the nation’s politics. The Pai Terra Ranka coalition, which includes about ten political parties and is led by Pereira, was also expected to be a major contender. Their absence leaves the field wide open for Embalo and his supporters, notably the No Kumpu Guine platform, a coalition backing the incumbent president.
The exclusion of the main opposition parties has not gone uncontested. Pereira and his allies have fiercely criticized the Supreme Court’s decision and accused Embalo of undermining democracy by clinging to power beyond his mandate. Embalo’s current five-year term, which began in December 2019, has been a source of heated debate. The president initially vowed to serve only one term but announced in March 2025 that he would seek re-election, reversing his earlier stance. The opposition argues that Embalo’s term expired at the end of February 2025, while the Supreme Court of Justice ruled that it extends until September 4.
The political standoff has drawn in regional actors as well. In March, a mission from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) arrived in Guinea-Bissau to help mediate the crisis. However, the delegation left abruptly, citing threats of expulsion from Embalo’s government—a move that further strained relations between the president and the broader West African community.
Guinea-Bissau’s history is replete with coups and attempted coups. Since gaining independence, the country has experienced four successful coups, the last of which occurred in 2012, as well as numerous failed attempts. Embalo himself survived a coup attempt in December 2023, and in 2023, he dissolved the opposition-dominated parliament after armed clashes that he described as another attempted coup. The dissolution and subsequent postponement of elections sparked accusations from Pereira—then the speaker of parliament—who labeled Embalo’s move a “constitutional coup.”
Despite these challenges, Guinea-Bissau has made efforts in recent years to strengthen its democratic institutions and move towards the rule of law, especially since the 2014 presidential election. However, the events of the past week have exposed the fragility of these gains and underscored the persistent volatility of the country’s political environment.
“This is indeed a new attempt to subvert the constitutional order, on the eve of the start of the election campaign for the legislative and presidential elections on November 23,” General Kuruma emphasized during his press briefing. He reiterated that the military remains committed to upholding the country’s constitutional framework and ensuring a peaceful electoral process.
For ordinary citizens, the stakes are high. Political stability is a major concern, as years of unrest have hampered socio-economic development and deterred foreign investment. Many in Guinea-Bissau are hoping that this election, despite its controversies and the latest coup scare, will mark a turning point toward lasting peace and prosperity.
As campaigning begins, all eyes are on Embalo and his rivals—at least those still permitted to run. The government has pledged to maintain order and protect candidates, but the exclusion of key opposition figures and the recent arrests have cast a long shadow over the process. Whether Guinea-Bissau can finally break free from its cycle of coups and contested elections remains to be seen. For now, the country stands at a crossroads, its future hanging in the balance as voters prepare to make their voices heard.
With the memory of past upheavals still fresh and the specter of instability looming, Guinea-Bissau’s journey toward democracy faces one of its most decisive tests yet.
