Guinea-Bissau is again facing a dramatic turn in its volatile politics as reports emerge of an operation by the National Guard in the capital to free a minister and another senior official detained on corruption allegations. Observers describe the incident as a coup attempt that could reshape the country’s immediate future and its governance landscape.
From his location abroad, President Umaro Sissoco Embaló labeled the events a coup attempt, warning of serious consequences for those involved. He spoke to local media after returning to the country from Dubai, where he had attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference and gathered updates on the situation unfolding at home. The president’s comments underscored the gravity with which authorities view the move and signaled a determination to uphold constitutional order.
Embaló indicated that the National Guard Commander Colonel Victor Tchongo was connected to the unfolding events, noting that one of the military figures detained the previous day acted on orders from higher authorities. The remark points to a chain of command whose clarity remains central to understanding who instigated the actions and what their exact objectives were as the crisis developed.
In a bid to restore clarity and accountability, Embaló announced the creation of an investigation commission tasked with shedding light on the sequence of events that rattled Bissau, the capital city in West Africa. The move reflects a broader push for transparency in a country long haunted by political instability and recurring power struggles, especially in moments when security forces are mobilized in response to perceived governance failures.
Earlier in the week, a violent clash erupted in the city as special forces of the Bisauguinean Army clashed with the National Guard. The confrontation targeted the Judicial Police headquarters near the Bandim market with the objective of securing the release of Suleiman Seidi, the Minister of Economy and Finance, and António Monteiro, the Secretary of State for the Treasury. The detained officials were taken into custody in connection with corruption allegations involving government-linked companies, reported to involve substantial sums.
According to sources within the Armed Forces General Staff, Seidi and Monteiro were subsequently located at the National Guard barracks area and were transported to the Judicial Police headquarters in what authorities described as a safe transfer. The episode drew intense attention from both national actors and regional observers, highlighting the fragility of administrative institutions amid fiscal pressures and governance concerns.
Violence in the capital subsided for the moment, but heavy patrols remained visible as security forces maintained a palpable presence on the streets. Uncertainty lingered about the precise motives behind the clashes and the long-term implications for the country’s political trajectory, underscoring the fragile balance between order and dissent in Guinea-Bissau.
The Economic Community of West African States, known as ECOWAS, issued a statement condemning the violence and calling for respect for constitutional order and the rule of law. The regional body’s stance reflects a broader commitment to stability in West Africa, where political transitions and security challenges frequently intersect with regional diplomacy and economic integration efforts.
Guinea-Bissau has endured recurring political instability since independence and has witnessed multiple military uprisings in recent years. The country’s history includes four coups since 1973, a pattern that has complicated governance, deterred investment, and strained public services. Observers emphasize the need for inclusive dialogue and stronger civilian institutions to prevent future outbreaks of unrest and to preserve democratic norms.
The most recent foiled attempt to alter the political order occurred on February 1, 2022, when a group of armed men in civilian clothing surrounded the presidential palace during an extraordinary Council of Ministers meeting attended by the president and prime minister. That episode served as a stark reminder of the persistent fragility in Guinea-Bissau’s political system and the ongoing tension between military actors and civilian leadership.