On Grave political situation in Guinea-Bissau after the coup of 26 November

B100572/2025

European Parliament resolution on Grave political situation in Guinea-Bissau after the coup of 26 November

(2025/3027(RSP))

The European Parliament,

having regard to Rule 150(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

Whereas on 23 November legislative and presidential elections were held in Guinea-Bissau; whereas preliminary results indicate that candidate Fernando Dias da Costa won the presidential election; whereas the election results should have been released on 27 November;

whereas on 26 November a takeover took place, with the military suspending the electoral process and preventing the results from being released;

whereas military officials appointed General Horta Inta-A to lead a self-proclaimed one-year “transition government” and named a so-called “new cabinet” with figures allied with the deposed President Umaro Embaló;

whereas reports indicate that Embaló travelled to Senegal, Congo-Brazzaville and Morocco; whereas Dias da Costa escaped from his campaign headquarters and is currently protected at the Nigerian embassy in Bissau; whereas the African Independence Party for Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) was barred from presenting a candidate in the election; whereas, on the day of the coup, the President of the People’s National Assembly and PAIGC leader, Domingos Simões Pereira, along with other political figures and citizens was arrested and PAIGC’s headquarters were invaded by armed groups;

whereas protests demanding the release of Simões Pereira and other political figures and the publication of the election results, took place; whereas the military has tightened restrictions, banning all demonstrations and strikes;

whereas opposition and civil society organisations consider that the takeover was masterminded by Embaló himself to prevent unfavourable election results from being published;

Strongly condemns the military takeover by a self-proclaimed “military high command”, which has undermined the constitutional order of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau and the functioning of its institutions, preventing the announcement of the election results;

Expresses its solidarity with the people of Guinea-Bissau, once again victims of the disrespect for their will as expressed in the elections and for their constitutional democratic order;

Urges a complete, immediate and unconditional restoration of the democratic constitutional order and the respect for the legitimate will of the Guinean people as expressed in the recent elections of 23 November, and the existence of a president, a parliament and a government chosen by the people;

Demands the immediate release of Simões Pereira and all those illegally detained, an end to political persecution within the electoral process, including electoral authorities and opposition figures, and investigations into cases of disappearance.

Denounces foreign political and economic interference that has contributed to perpetuating dependency, corruption, and the disrespect for the country’s constitutional democratic order;

Calls on the European Commission to review its policies towards Guinea-Bissau to ensure that cooperation funds are not used to strengthen military or authoritarian structures, but instead promote equitable development, education, health, and food sovereignty;

Reiterates that lasting stability in West Africa is only possible when African peoples can freely determine their own destiny, free from external pressures and neoliberal conditionalities;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the EU institutions, Member States, and the Bissau-Guinean authorities.