On 26 November 2025, military officers announced that they had taken ‘full control’ of Guinea-Bissau until ‘further notice’, suspending institutions and preventing the proclamation of the results of the 23 November presidential and legislative elections. The borders were closed and the electoral process was halted just as citizens were waiting to find out who had been elected president.

This group of officers has formed the “High Military Command for the Restoration of Order”. General Denis N’Canha, head of the presidential guard, read their statement at the armed forces’ headquarters. This military coup occurred a few days after the first round of general elections on 23 November. The provisional results were expected today, ahead of their validation by the Supreme Court.

The military high command has ordered the suspension of access to several social networks, including Facebook, TikTok and Instagram, throughout the country. This is a serious violation of freedom of expression and the fundamental right of citizens to information, and will only serve to worsen the ongoing political crisis.

We express our deep concern and indignation at the brutal breakdown of the constitution and electoral process in Guinea-Bissau. The seizure of power by military forces constitutes a grave infringement of the Bissau-Guinean people’s sovereignty and poses an immediate threat to democracy, the rule of law, human rights, peace and stability within the country.

Since the election of Umaro Sissoco Embaló in 2019, Guinea-Bissau has experienced several political and institutional crises. These have been marked by tensions between the executive branch and the main opposition party, the PAIGC, which held the majority in the 2019 and 2023 National Assemblies. Both of these Assemblies were dissolved by the president, first in 2022 and again in 2023.

Furthermore, the country has a history of repeated military coups since gaining independence, which has weakened democratic institutions and slowed down the nation’s socio-economic development. In light of this alarming situation, which has been ongoing for months and has been characterised by several flagrant violations of fundamental rights, we strongly urge the following:

• demand the immediate return to constitutional order and continuation of the electoral process so that the democratically elected president can be announced and installed, as required by the ECOWAS and African Union observation missions;
• call for the immediate release of all detained political figures, including outgoing President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and the former President of the National Assembly, Domingo Simões Pereira;
• invite regional and international bodies to call for a swift return to constitutional governance and endorse the ongoing electoral process; and
• we also recommend the resumption of an inclusive political dialogue among all key actors in Guinea-Bissau, with the aim of attaining democratic, transparent, fair and peaceful solutions.

Finally, we wish to express our solidarity with the people of Guinea-Bissau and pro-democracy activists. We continue to closely monitor the situation and to promote respect for democracy, the rule of law and human rights in Guinea-Bissau.

Done in Dakar on 27/11/2025.

• Afrikajom Center
• AfricTivistes