Several Soldiers Arrested as Guinea-Bissau Army Foils Coup Attempt

Many soldiers have reportedly been arrested after the military thwarted a coup attempt in Guinea-Bissau.

Deputy Chief of Staff, General Mamadu Ture, disclosed this at a press conference in Bissau on Friday.

“This action aimed to disrupt the electoral process,” Ture said.

The announcement came less than 24 hours before the start of election campaigns scheduled for Saturday, about three weeks before the legislative and presidential polls.

The elections are expected to be dominated by President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, following the disqualification of the main opposition party from participating in the race.

President Embalo, speaking after a cabinet meeting on Thursday, warned that his administration would not tolerate instability during the campaign period.

He stated, “No disorder will be tolerated. The government has taken all necessary measures to ensure the safety of each candidate during this campaign.”

According to Ture, Brigadier General Daba Nawalna, director of a military training centre located about 30 kilometres from the capital, was among those arrested and is believed to be one of the masterminds of the failed plot.

Military intelligence sources said Nawalna and his alleged collaborators were apprehended following a coordinated overnight operation by the army and state security forces.

Although officials have yet to release full details about the attempted coup, security in the capital, Bissau, was visibly heightened on Friday, with troops deployed around key government buildings and public spaces.

Guinea-Bissau, a Portuguese-speaking West African nation, has long struggled with political instability and recurring coups since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974.

The country has witnessed several military takeovers in the decades since, often driven by internal divisions within the armed forces.

However, since the 2014 presidential election, Guinea-Bissau has made gradual progress toward democratic stability and governance.

The latest development comes just days after an alleged coup attempt in Nigeria, which reportedly led President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reshuffle the country’s military leadership.

Although the Nigerian military has not officially confirmed the incident, reports suggest that over 16 senior officers have been detained in connection with the alleged plot.