Guinea-Bissau Coup Declared a 'Sham' by Regional Leaders

Fri Dec 05 2025 06:11:22 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Regional political figures express skepticism over the military takeover in Guinea-Bissau, labeling it as a staged coup amid political instability.

Following the military ousting of President Umaro Sissoco Embaló in Guinea-Bissau, prominent figures like Senegal's Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan have dismissed the takeover as a 'sham'. They argue that the coup lacks legitimacy, coinciding suspiciously with the upcoming release of election results, which the military has since blocked. Despite the leaders’ claims, no evidence has been presented to substantiate the allegations of a staged coup, as both the African Union and Ecowas suspend Guinea-Bissau due to the unconstitutional power grab.

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.

Guinea-Bissau is a coup-prone West African nation which is also strained by drug trafficking.