Guinea-Bissau's President Embaló Deposed in Military Coup, Flees to Senegal

Guinea-Bissau's President Umaro Sissoco Embaló has been deposed in a military coup and has fled to neighboring Senegal. The coup occurred on November 26, 2025, just days after a closely contested presidential election.

The military, operating under the name "High Military Command for the Restoration of Order," has installed General Horta N'Tam as transitional president for a one-year term. The coup took place a day before the expected announcement of provisional election results, with political newcomer Fernando Dias emerging as a leading challenger to Embaló.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has suspended Guinea-Bissau from all decision-making bodies and is considering sanctions to restore constitutional order. ECOWAS plans to send a mediation team to negotiate with the coup leaders.

Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has condemned the coup as a "sham" and called for the continuation of the disrupted electoral process. He emphasized the need for the national electoral commission to declare the legitimate winner of the election.

Guinea-Bissau has a history of political instability, with multiple coups since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974. The country remains a key hub for drug trafficking, and this latest coup adds to a pattern of recent military takeovers across West Africa, raising concerns over democracy in the region.