The Federal Government of Nigeria has condemned the military takeover in Guinea-Bissau, warning that the coup represents a grave setback for democracy and a destabilising threat to the entire West African sub-region.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, Nigeria said it received news of the military’s declaration of control “with profound dismay and deep concern,” describing the action as an unequivocal breach of constitutional governance.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria condemns this act of military insurrection which undermines the democratic progress, constitutional order and stability not only of Guinea-Bissau but of the entire West African sub-region,” the statement read.
Abuja stressed that the events in Bissau amounted to a direct violation of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, which rejects any seizure of power by unconstitutional means. It called for the “immediate and unconditional restoration of constitutional order,” insisting on the protection and release of all detained persons, as well as respect for the country’s democratic institutions.
Nigeria also raised concern for election observers from the African Union and ECOWAS still stationed in Bissau, urging the military authorities to guarantee their safety. “We call on the authorities in Guinea-Bissau to ensure and guarantee the safety of all election observers still in the country on official assignment,” the statement added.
The government appealed for restraint among all actors, urging them to prioritise dialogue and honour the will of Guinea-Bissau’s voters, even amid the tense aftermath of the country’s general elections.
“We warn that the perpetrators of this act will be held accountable for their actions, which threaten to plunge the nation into chaos and reverse the hard-won gains of its democracy,” the Foreign Affairs Ministry cautioned.
Nigeria reaffirmed its readiness to work with regional and global partners to restore stability in the country. As a leading member of ECOWAS and the African Union, the government said it would support every necessary measure to ensure a swift return to constitutional rule.
The condemnation comes as Guinea-Bissau was thrown into turmoil on Wednesday after military officers announced that they had taken “total control” of the country, shuttered its borders and suspended the electoral process three days after polls were held. Earlier, heavy gunfire was reported near the presidential palace, with armed men blocking key access points.
General Denis N’Canha, head of the presidential military office, said a joint command of all branches of the armed forces had assumed authority. Speaking flanked by soldiers, he claimed the military had uncovered a plot involving “national drug lords” and the illegal importation of weapons aimed at disrupting the constitutional order.
Incumbent President Umaro Embalo—long considered a frontrunner in the race—was reported to be inside a building near military headquarters alongside top officials. In a phone call to France24, he declared, “I have been deposed.”
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Both Embalo and opposition candidate Fernando Dias had already declared victory ahead of the provisional results scheduled for release on Thursday.
This latest upheaval adds to the long history of political instability in Guinea-Bissau, which has experienced multiple coups and attempted coups since independence. The 2025 election cycle was already fraught with tension, following the exclusion of the PAIGC party and its leader, Domingos Simões Pereira, from participating after the Supreme Court ruled their submissions were late—an outcome the opposition dismissed as manipulation.
Embalo has ruled by decree since dissolving the opposition-controlled legislature in 2023, and critics argue that his mandate lapsed on February 27 this year.
As the country grapples with yet another leadership crisis, regional actors warn that Guinea-Bissau stands at a fragile crossroads, with democracy hanging in the balance.