Timeline of Events Leading to the November 2025 Coup

Timeline of the November 2025 Coup in Guinea-Bissau and the Nation’s Enduring Political Instability

The November 2025 coup in Guinea-Bissau unfolded just days after disputed elections, with soldiers detaining President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and suspending the electoral process. This event fits into a long history of coups, assassinations, and institutional dysfunction that has plagued Guinea-Bissau since independence in 1974.

Timeline of Events Leading to the November 2025 Coup

November 23, 2025 – General Elections Held Guinea-Bissau conducted presidential and legislative elections. The process was marred by controversy, with opposition candidates disqualified and both Embaló and rival Fernando Dias prematurely declaring victory.

November 24–25, 2025 – Rising Tensions Political uncertainty grew as the National Electoral Commission prepared to announce provisional results. Rumors of fraud and manipulation circulated, heightening instability.

November 26, 2025 – Coup Day

·       Heavy gunfire erupted near the presidential palace in Bissau around midday, causing panic among civilians.

·       Soldiers seized control of key roads and strategic sites.

·       Brigadier General Denis N’Canha announced the formation of the “High Military Command for the Restoration of Order,” declaring the military in charge.

·       President Umaro Sissoco Embaló was arrested. He later confirmed to international media, “I have been deposed.”

·       Borders were closed, a curfew imposed, and the electoral process suspended.

Deep Dive: Guinea-Bissau’s History of Political Instability

Independence and Early Coups (1974–1980) Guinea-Bissau gained independence from Portugal in 1974 after a protracted liberation war led by the PAIGC (African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde). By 1980, President Luís Cabral was ousted in a coup led by João Bernardo “Nino” Vieira, setting the precedent for military interference in politics.

Civil War and Assassinations (1998–2009)

·       In 1998, a military mutiny escalated into civil war, displacing thousands.

·       President Vieira himself was assassinated in 2009, alongside the army chief of staff, in a cycle of retaliatory killings that underscored the fragility of state institutions.

Drug Trafficking and State Fragility (2000s–2010s) Guinea-Bissau became notorious as a “narco-state,” serving as a hub for cocaine trafficking from Latin America to Europe. Weak governance and corruption allowed criminal networks to thrive, further undermining stability.

Recent Instability (2020–2025)

·       Umaro Sissoco Embaló became president in 2020, but his tenure was marked by disputes over constitutional authority and repeated clashes with parliament.

·       Elections scheduled for 2024 were postponed to November 2025, fueling accusations of authoritarianism.

·       The November 2025 coup reflects the persistence of Guinea-Bissau’s “coup belt” reputation, where military actors routinely override civilian governance.

Let’s Take A Break

The November 2025 coup is not an isolated incident but part of Guinea-Bissau’s entrenched cycle of instability. Since independence, the country has endured multiple coups, assassinations, civil war, and systemic corruption, leaving democratic institutions weak and vulnerable. The suspension of elections and Embaló’s arrest mark yet another setback in Guinea-Bissau’s struggle to establish lasting civilian rule.