The army in Guinea-Bissau says it has foiled a plot to destabilise the government and arrested several senior military officers accused of attempting to subvert the country’s constitutional order.
The announcement, reported by AFP, came just a day before official campaign for both the legislative and presidential elections scheduled to start on Saturday (today).
“This action is aimed to disrupt the electoral process,” the army’s deputy chief of staff, Gen. Mamadu Ture, said at a press conference in Bissau on Friday.
He, however, declined to reveal how many officers were arrested or give details of the alleged coup plot.
It was gathered that among those detained is Brgd. Gen. Daba Nawalna, head of a military training centre located about 30 kilometres from the capital, Bissau.
President Umaro Embaló, who is seeking reelection, had on Thursday warned that his administration would not tolerate any disturbances during the campaign period.
“No disorder will be tolerated. The government has taken all necessary measures to ensure the safety of each candidate during this campaign,” Embaló told reporters after a cabinet meeting.
The arrests come at a politically sensitive time for the small West African nation, where upcoming elections are expected to be dominated by Embaló following the disqualification of the main opposition party.
Guinea-Bissau has experienced decades of political instability marked by repeated coups since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974. However, since the 2014 presidential election, it has made efforts to consolidate democratic governance and the rule of law.
The latest development comes amid growing concerns over the resurgence of military takeovers across West Africa. Since 2020, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Guinea have all experienced coups that toppled elected governments, heightening fears of democratic regression in the region.
Though relatively calm in recent years, Guinea-Bissau remains one of West Africa’s most politically volatile states. The country has witnessed more than ten coup attempts, with the military maintaining strong influence over national politics.
In 2022, an attack on the presidential palace—described by Embaló as an attempted coup—left several people dead.