US EditionMilitary Seizes Power in Guinea-Bissau, Arrests President
The military formed a High Military Command, suspended elections, and closed borders amid claims of a plot to destabilize Guinea-Bissau following a disputed vote with over 65% turnout.
- On Wednesday, November 26, 2025, army officers said they had seized power and announced the takeover on state television, while outgoing President Umaro Sissoco Embaló was arrested, government sources reported.
- A disputed presidential contest in which both main contenders claimed victory prompted the context for the takeover, which came three days after the national elections and one day before provisional results were due.
- Witnesses in Bissau said roads to the palace were closed and armed checkpoints appeared, gunfire at around 13:00 GMT near the electoral commission headquarters forced hundreds to flee, and fighting stopped by 1400 GMT, a Reuters journalist said.
- Suspending the vote count, the military closed the country's borders and declared control, announcing it suspended the electoral process and formed the High Military Command for the Restoration of Order.
- The takeover fits a pattern in a country that has experienced multiple coups since 1980, with nine coups or attempted coups and recent attempts against Embaló including one in December 2023 in Guinea-Bissau, a nation with a population just under two million.
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270 Articles
In the aftermath of the military coup d'état that overthrew the outgoing President, a "Military High Command" and transition is expected this Thursday The streets of the capital of Guinea-Bissau were
On Wednesday, three days after the second round of the presidential election and on the eve of the publication of the results, the outgoing president was arrested by military personnel, who announced that they had taken control of the country.
A group of Guinea-Bissau army officers announced Wednesday they had seized power in the West African country known for frequent coups, a day before the results of a closely contested presidential election were to be announced.
The Guinea-Bissau military announced it had taken control of the country's power in a statement broadcast on state television on the 26th, in response to "attempts by certain politicians to destabilize the country."
Military officers seize power in Guinea-Bissau and remove President Embaló
President Umaro Sissoco Embaló has been deposed in Guinea-Bissau after military officers announced they were taking control of the country and suspending state institutions, according to media reports. Embaló confirmed his removal in a brief phone call with France 24 on Wednesday, saying, “I have been deposed,” before adding that he could not speak further without risking the confiscation of his phone. He said he was being held at the armed forc…
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