Guinea-Bissau's military has announced taking "total control" of the country just days after chaotic presidential elections, in which both main candidates claimed victory. The announcement came as soldiers suspended the electoral process and closed borders, citing the formation of a new high military command aimed at restoring order.
The move comes amidst escalating tensions between the two main contenders, incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and his rival Fernando Dias. Shots were heard near key government buildings on Wednesday, but it remains unclear who was responsible for the gunfire.
This latest coup attempt is not the first of its kind in Guinea-Bissau, a country plagued by instability since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974. The nation has experienced at least nine coups between then and Embaló's inauguration in 2020, with critics accusing him of fabricating past putsch attempts to justify repression of opposition.
The UN had previously labelled Guinea-Bissau a "narco-state" due to its history as a major hub for the global cocaine trade. The country's poverty-stricken economy, with an average yearly income of just $963 in 2024, has likely contributed to widespread disillusionment and frustration among citizens.
As the situation in Guinea-Bissau continues to deteriorate, international observers will be watching closely to see how this latest power struggle unfolds.
The move comes amidst escalating tensions between the two main contenders, incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and his rival Fernando Dias. Shots were heard near key government buildings on Wednesday, but it remains unclear who was responsible for the gunfire.
This latest coup attempt is not the first of its kind in Guinea-Bissau, a country plagued by instability since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974. The nation has experienced at least nine coups between then and Embaló's inauguration in 2020, with critics accusing him of fabricating past putsch attempts to justify repression of opposition.
The UN had previously labelled Guinea-Bissau a "narco-state" due to its history as a major hub for the global cocaine trade. The country's poverty-stricken economy, with an average yearly income of just $963 in 2024, has likely contributed to widespread disillusionment and frustration among citizens.
As the situation in Guinea-Bissau continues to deteriorate, international observers will be watching closely to see how this latest power struggle unfolds.
. I mean, let's be real, Guinea-Bissau has been in a mess for ages, and these elections were always gonna end in chaos. The fact that the military got involved just days after is laughable – what did they expect? That someone would magically calm things down overnight? 
. I mean, who needs stability when you've got politicians playing politics with guns, right? 
The international community should be more concerned about addressing the root causes of this instability – poverty, corruption, and all that jazz – rather than just watching it unfold like a bad soap opera 
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Only time (and probably more bloodshed) will tell 
? and 963 bucks a year? that's basically minimum wage in most states here so no wonder people are fed up 
poor gov actually kinda makes sense, but at what cost tho... will the UN get involved now or was this one gonna sail under the radar 
like they cant even hold a election right its always some kind of coup or another 
. Another coup attempt just days after the elections is super concerning. It feels like they're just stuck in a cycle of instability and it's hard to see a way out 
. The fact that both main candidates claimed victory, but the military took control anyway, suggests that nobody has any real power right now 
. I can only imagine how frustrating and scary it must be for the people living there, with poverty and corruption being such big issues 
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. It's heartbreaking to think about all the young people who have grown up in Guinea-Bissau without any real security or opportunities for a better future 
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?? i mean i added like an extra scoop of oats and it made all the difference in texture, but you gotta try them ASAP! anyway, back to guinea-bissau... have you ever heard of that country? it seems so tiny 
Another country slipping into chaos 
... like we've seen before in Africa. I mean, 9 coups already? That's just crazy talk 
. Can't they just have a stable government for once? 
. How can you expect stability when people are struggling to make ends meet? 
.
, i mean who needs all these coups and military takeovers? can't they just have a peaceful transfer of power? 
instead of working together to solve problems.
just another country falling apart 
. The poverty and corruption are definitely a major part of the problem 
, but it's not like there aren't enough resources or smart solutions to fix it 
. It's like they're more worried about who gets to be in charge next than actually helping anyone 
. Anyway, it's not surprising to me that Guinea-Bissau is getting a "narco-state" label 
how can you even survive with that kinda money? 
and what's with all the gunshots near gov buildings yesterday? 
did someone really get hurt? 
The whole "restoring order" thing rings a bit hollow, don't you think? 
. i hope it doesn't escalate into anything worse. and those borders getting closed? that's not exactly a recipe for stability 
. And what's with the military announcing "total control" over the country? Sounds like a classic move to justify repression of opposition... or is it? Do we really need another report from the UN on Guinea-Bissau being a "narco-state"? I mean, yeah, that does sound bad 
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gotta hope that whatever happens next, it's for the betterment of the people and not just some power-hungry group 
, right? The UN calling them a narco-state is pretty on point though - it sounds like someone threw up on their report 
. Anyways, the people of Guinea-Bissau are probably just sitting there thinking "yawn, another coup attempt, how's this gonna end this time?" Meanwhile, the world is watching from afar, going "huh, interesting" 