Guinea-Bissau’s military authorities have announced that presidential and legislative elections will be held on 6 December, despite pressure for a faster return to civilian rule.
Transitional President Horta N’Tam signed the election decree on Wednesday after consultations with members of the National Transitional Council, military leaders, government officials and representatives of the electoral commission. He told reporters that conditions were in place to ensure free and fair elections.
Guinea-Bissau’s coup leaders have faced mounting pressure from the West African regional bloc Ecowas since seizing power from President Umaro Sissoco Embaló in November. Ecowas had pushed for a shorter transition period and rejected the junta’s initial proposal of a one-year timeline.
In response to the coup, Ecowas suspended Guinea-Bissau from its decision-making bodies and warned of further sanctions. It remains unclear how the regional bloc will respond now that a formal election date has been announced.
The November 2025 coup sparked widespread criticism, coming just before the official declaration of presidential election results. Both Embaló and his main challenger, Fernando Dias, had claimed victory at the time.
The military justified its intervention by saying it was preventing a plot to destabilise the country, which has a long history of political instability. However, some regional observers, including former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, have argued that the coup was staged.
Under the transitional charter adopted after the takeover, interim leader N’Tam and his prime minister are barred from contesting the elections. Even so, analysts note that recent trends across West Africa have seen coup leaders extend their grip on power, raising questions about whether Guinea-Bissau will follow through on a full civilian transition.
Since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974, Guinea-Bissau has experienced at least nine attempted or successful coups, making it one of Africa’s most politically volatile states.
