A group of officers from the army of Guinea-Bissau have been arrested on charges of attempting a coup, as reported by the country’s armed forces. The alleged plot involved several senior officers who went missing starting on Monday and was revealed just before the general election campaign was scheduled to begin.
General Mamadu Ture Kuruma, deputy chief of staff of the armed forces, stated at a press conference on Friday that the military had successfully prevented an “attempt to subvert the constitutional order.” A statement issued by the armed forces General Staff described the incident as a troubling event that threatens the peace and stability essential for socio-economic development and foreign investment.
According to reports, the coup attempt was allegedly led by Brigadier General Dahaba Nawalna, the director of a military training school, with support from some generals and senior officers. While General Kuruma did not disclose all the names of those detained, he identified Nawalna, along with Commanders Domingos Nhanke and Mario Midana, as among the senior officers arrested in their homes in the capital, Bissau.
No information has been provided regarding the legal proceedings against the accused or the total number of individuals implicated. This marks the second known coup attempt against President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, who assumed office in 2020. The most recent incident occurred in December 2023.
The controversy surrounding Embalo’s term has intensified ahead of the November general elections. Kuruma emphasized that this was another attempt to undermine the constitutional order, occurring on the eve of the legislative and presidential election campaign, which is set to begin on November 23.
Campaigning officially starts on Saturday, with the incumbent president expected to dominate the elections after the main opposition was disqualified. Embalo, during a cabinet meeting on Thursday, warned that “no disorder will be tolerated” and affirmed that the government has taken necessary measures to ensure the safety of all candidates during the campaign.
Embalo has faced ongoing conflict with the political opposition, which claims his five-year term ended in February, while the Supreme Court of Justice ruled it would end on September 4. In March, Embalo announced his intention to seek a second term in November, reversing previous commitments to step down.
The opposition refuses to recognize Embalo as president. A regional West African bloc sent a mission to Guinea-Bissau in March to assist in resolving the crisis, but it left abruptly after citing threats of expulsion from Embalo.
Guinea-Bissau has experienced a series of coups since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974. However, the country has made progress toward the rule of law since its 2014 presidential election.
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