Bui: Another coup in yet another West African country has taken place. On Wednesday, a military leader Dinis N’Tchama announced that “The High Military Command for the re-establishment of national and public order (has) decided to immediately depose the president of the republic, to suspend, until new orders, all of the institutions of the republic of Guinea-Bissau”. The military also announced the arrest of President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, the suspension of the electoral process and the activities of media outlets, as well as closing all land, air, and sea borders.
According to Cameroon News Agency, the coup in Guinea-Bissau emerges just months after similar political upheaval in Madagascar, a former French colony. Unlike Madagascar, Guinea-Bissau has a long history of political instability, marked by at least 19 coups or attempted coups, with five being successful. The latest coup on November 26, 2025, adds to this tumultuous history.
In addition to Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, experienced coup reports earlier this year, resulting in President Bola Tinubu dismissing several top military officials. This coup in Guinea-Bissau is part of a broader pattern observed since 2020, where analysts have labeled the region “the Coup Belt.” This area spans West, Central, and East Africa, which since 1990, has witnessed 21 of the 27 coups on the continent.
As of November 2025, five West African countries are under military rule: Burkina Faso, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, and Niger. A common factor among these nations is their history as former French colonies, except for Guinea-Bissau. This history contributes to a growing dissatisfaction with elected leaders, often accompanied by accusations of French interference in their political affairs. In response, these countries frequently seek military and economic support from Russia, much to France’s dismay.