Umaro Sissoco Embaló Flees to Senegal Following Military Coup in Guinea-Bissau

Fri Nov 28 2025 14:47:04 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The recent military coup in Guinea-Bissau has led to President Umaro Sissoco Embaló fleeing to Senegal, amidst heightened tensions and a new military-led government.

Following a military coup in Guinea-Bissau, President Umaro Sissoco Embaló has fled to neighboring Senegal. The coup occurred shortly before the announcement of election results, with the military citing a need to preserve democracy from alleged external threats. The new military government has pledged to rule for a transitional period while regional bodies call for a return to constitutional order.

Guinea-Bissau's deposed President Umaro Sissoco Embaló has arrived in neighbouring Senegal following his release by military forces that toppled his government this week, Senegal's authorities have announced.

It follows negotiations by the regional West African bloc Ecowas to secure his transfer amid rising tensions in Guinea-Bissau.

Senegal's foreign ministry said in a statement that Embaló landed in the country 'safe and sound' on a chartered military flight late on Thursday.

The military in Guinea-Bissau has already sworn in a new transitional leader, Gen Horta N'Tam, who will rule the coup-prone country for a year.

Wednesday's coup came a day before authorities were due to announce the provisional results of a presidential and parliamentary election.

The military has suspended the electoral process and blocked the release of the results, claiming it was acting to thwart a plot by unnamed politicians supported by a drug baron to destabilise the nation. They imposed a night-time curfew and closed the borders of the country.

Sandwiched between Senegal and Guinea, Guinea-Bissau is known as a notorious drug-trafficking hub where the military has been influential since it gained independence from Portugal in 1974. Both Embaló and his closest rival Fernando Dias had claimed victory in Sunday's presidential poll, creating a heated political environment.

In the midst of this political turmoil, government sources revealed that Dias, along with other key political figures, had also been detained. The military junta has prohibited public protests, emphasizing a need to maintain peace and stability.

While tensions remain high with soldiers patrolling the streets of Bissau, Gen N'Tam stated the military's actions were necessary to protect democracy. In light of the coup, the African Union and Ecowas have condemned the actions and called for a restoration of constitutional governance. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has also expressed his deep concern regarding the situation, urging for an immediate return to constitutional order.

This incident marks another chapter in Guinea-Bissau's tumultuous history, experiencing numerous coups and attempted coups over the last half-century.