Claims of a 'Sham' Coup in Guinea-Bissau Spark Controversy

Sat Nov 29 2025 09:59:21 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

West African leaders express skepticism over the military's recent takeover of Guinea-Bissau's government, labeling it a 'sham' coup as the nation faces electoral turmoil.

Following the military's ousting of President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, West African political figures, including Senegal's Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, have called the coup a 'sham'. They demand the release of recently delayed electoral results, while the military justifies its actions as a response to threats against national stability. As the country navigates this political upheaval, mixed reactions from citizens depict a nation grappling with its uncertain future.

Senegal's prime minister and Nigeria's former president have both said they do not believe the ousting of Guinea-Bissau's president by the country's military was a genuine coup.

Former President Umaro Sissoco Embaló's apparent removal came a day before authorities were due to announce election results.

The military has since suspended the electoral process and blocked the results' release, and has insisted it thwarted a plot to destabilise the politically unstable country.

Senegal's PM Ousmane Sonko and Nigeria's ex-leader Goodluck Jonathan demanded the presidential election results be released, but did not provide evidence to support their claims the coup was fabricated.

The ex-president arrived in neighbouring Senegal on a chartered military flight late on Thursday, following his release by the military forces who toppled his government.

Nigeria's former leader Jonathan, who led a team of election observers from the West African Elders Forum to Guinea-Bissau, said the incident was not a coup.

He described it as a ceremonial coup, questioning the events that preceded Wednesday's announcement of a power grab by the military.

Meanwhile, Senegal's Sonko told lawmakers that what happened in Guinea-Bissau was a sham. The statements of both men add to claims by the opposition that the coup was staged, although none has so far presented evidence to support this.

On Friday, Guinea-Bissau's transitional leader Gen Horta N'Tam appointed Ilidio Vieira Té, previously the finance minister, as the new prime minister.

Additionally, the African Union suspended Guinea-Bissau on Friday following the unconstitutional military takeover, while the West African bloc Ecowas urged the military to return to the barracks.

Guinea-Bissau is a coup-prone West African nation strained by drug trafficking. The military stated their intention to thwart a plot by unnamed politicians backed by a drug baron. As citizens react to this turmoil, the outlook for the nation remains uncertain.