Bissau-Guinean President Accused of Staging Coup After Soldiers Appear on Television

The main opposition candidate in the closely contested election says the alleged coup was orchestrated by President Umaro Embalo in an attempt to cling to power
Bissau-Guinean President Accused of Staging Coup After Soldiers Appear on Television
Military spokesperson Dinis N’Tchama speaks in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, on Nov. 26, 2025 TGB Guinea-Bissau via AP
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The main opposition candidate in Guinea-Bissau has claimed victory in a presidential vote this week and accused the West African nation’s leader of staging a military coup to avoid defeat.

On Nov. 26, soldiers appeared on state television to say they had seized power and arrested Bissau-Guinean President Umaro Sissoco Embaló. His rival Fernando Dias has said the military takeover was “fabricated” to disrupt the election results, which are expected on Nov. 27.

Rachel Roberts
Rachel Roberts
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Rachel Roberts is a London-based journalist with a background in local then national news. She focuses on health and education stories and has a particular interest in vaccines and issues impacting children.