By Stephen — Dalena Reporters
November 26, 2025
BISSAU — The constitutional order in Guinea-Bissau was thrown into fresh turmoil on Wednesday as armed men stormed the presidential palace in the capital and arrested Umaro Sissoco Embaló, the country’s president, along with several top security and government officials, just three days after a deeply contested national election.
Eyewitnesses reported explosions of gunfire around 1:00 p.m. local time, with masked and heavily armed soldiers sealing off the roads leading to the palace, interior ministry and the national electoral commission. The city — already tense after both leading presidential contenders claimed victory earlier in the week — plunged into chaos as panic spread among residents.
In a message to a Francophone media outlet, Embaló confirmed that he had been arrested inside his office at the presidential palace. He described the incident as a “coup d’état,” saying the action was orchestrated by the country’s army chief of staff. Along with Embaló, the arrested officials include the Armed Forces Chief of Staff, General Biaguê Na Ntan; his deputy, General Mamadou Touré; and Interior Minister Botché Candé.
According to military sources, officers have declared they are taking “total control” of the country — suspending the ongoing electoral process and closing international borders until further notice. The decision has triggered urgent concern among regional and international stakeholders, given Guinea-Bissau’s long history of political instability.
The arrests come in the immediate aftermath of the November 23, 2025 presidential and legislative elections — an election that both President Embaló and main challenger Fernando Dias da Costa claimed to have won. With no official provisional results released, the rival claims had already heightened political divisions across the country.
Observers warned that the coup could reverse hard-won gains in recent years, jeopardise democratic institutions, and potentially destabilise not just Guinea-Bissau but the broader West African region. As of now, the whereabouts of some detained officials remain unclear, and the military has not provided a public roadmap or timeline for the restoration of civilian rule.
Dalena Reporters will continue to monitor the unfolding crisis and report on any developments — including reactions from international bodies, next steps by the military junta, and the status of electoral legitimacy in Guinea-Bissau.