Guinea-Bissau coup was a sham, West African political figures say

BBC News - WorldCenterEN 3 min read 100% complete November 28, 2025 at 11:20 PM

AI Summary

medium article 3 min

Following a military takeover in Guinea-Bissau that ousted President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, prominent West African figures have suggested the coup was staged. Senegal's Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and Nigeria's former President Goodluck Jonathan both claim the event was a sham, coinciding with the imminent release of election results. The military suspended the electoral process, alleging it thwarted a destabilization plot. Some local groups accuse Embaló of orchestrating a "simulated coup" to prevent unfavorable election outcomes. While Embaló hasn't responded, Jonathan questioned the coup's authenticity, noting Embaló's initial announcement of his own deposition. The African Union has since suspended Guinea-Bissau's membership, and a new prime minister has been appointed by the transitional leader.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Nigeria 30% Senegal ×240% Guinea-Bissau ×550% Umaro Sissoco Embalã ×460% Goodluck Jonathan 70% Ousmane Sonko ×280%

Keywords

coup 100% guinea-bissau 90% election results 80% fabricated coup 80% political instability 70% umaro sissoco embaló 70% military takeover 60% west africa 60% dissent 50% sham 40%