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

B100579/2025

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

(2025/3027(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to Rule 150 of its Rules of Procedure,

whereas on 23 November 2025 general elections took place in Guinea-Bissau to elect the President and members of the National People’s Assembly;

whereas shortly before the election results were to be announced, soldiers overthrew and detained President Umaro Sissoco Embaló in a military coup d’etat on 26 November, installing Major-General Horta N'Tam as transitional president for a one-year period;

whereas independent radio stations were temporarily shut down, internet access disrupted, and live ammunition reportedly used to disperse peaceful protesters in the capital, Bissau; whereas the military temporarily closed the country's borders and air space, and imposed a curfew;

whereas at least 18 individuals, including government officials, magistrates and opposition figures, have been arbitrarily detained, with most reportedly held incommunicado; whereas the military junta has banned public protests and all actions deemed to disturb peace and stability in the country;

whereas, following the coup, the ousted President Embaló left the country and remains in exile;

whereas on 2 December the National Electoral Commission reported that most of the vote count had been destroyed by armed men, preventing it from publishing the official results; whereas both leading presidential candidates, the incumbent Umaro Sissoco Embaló and the main opposition candidate, Fernando Dias, had declared victory following the election;

whereas some foreign dignitaries and opposition figures have alleged that President Embaló and his supporters in the military orchestrated the coup in anticipation of a possible defeat in the election;

whereas the military junta’s transitional charter gives the Military High Command broad authority over legal and institutional reforms, including drafting amendments to the suspended constitution, establishing a new Constitutional Court, revising political party regulations and overseeing the appointment of new electoral officials; whereas a 65-member National Transition Council, including senior military officers, is designated to serve as the transitional legislature;

whereas the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) suspended Guinea-Bissau until the country’s constitutional order is restored;

where, since its independence from Portugal in 1974, Guinea-Bissau has been repeatedly affected by coups and political instability - with four successful coups and many more attempted ones - and has been described as a hub for drug trafficking, a situation compounded by weak institutions;

Strongly condemns the coup d’état perpetrated by elements of the military and calls for the restoration of constitutional order in Guinea-Bissau;

Calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all extrajudicially detained persons;

Urges all parties to abstain from violent action and to respect fundamental rights and freedoms;

Urges regional actors, including ECOWAS and the African Union, to support Guinea-Bissau in restoring its democratic order;

Calls on the EU Delegation to the Republic of Guinea-Bissau to closely monitor the situation;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the HR/VP, the African Union, ECOWAS, the United Nations and the authorities of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau;