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Guinea-Bissau Votes Amid Coup Fears as Embalo Seeks Contentious Second Term

Guinea-Bissau opened polls amid heightened tensions as President Umaro Sissoco Embalo seeks a disputed second term. Nearly half of the country's roughly 2.2 million residents are registered to vote, and a candidate needs more than 50% to avoid a runoff. The main contest pits Embalo against Fernando Dias da Costa, while the leading opposition leader and his party have been barred. Recent arrests of officers accused of plotting a coup have added to security concerns.

06:57 PM, 11/23/2025Politics
Guinea-Bissau Votes Amid Coup Fears as Embalo Seeks Contentious Second Term

Voting stations opened across Guinea-Bissau as the country — long troubled by repeated coup attempts — holds a contested presidential election. Incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embalo is seeking a rare second term amid strong opposition protests and a fraught political climate.

Turnout and rules: Authorities expect hundreds of thousands to vote. Nearly half of the country’s roughly 2.2 million residents are registered to vote. A candidate must secure more than 50% of the ballot to win outright; otherwise a runoff will be held.

The main contenders: Although 12 candidates appear on the ballot, the race is widely viewed as a duel between President Embalo and Fernando Dias da Costa, a 47-year-old backed by former prime minister Domingos Simões Pereira. Pereira — who finished second in the 2019 presidential election and leads the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) — and his party have been barred from taking part.

Political context: Embalo, 53, a former army general, has led the country since February 2020 and previously served as prime minister (November 2016–January 2018). The opposition argues his mandate should have ended earlier; the Supreme Court had said it ran until early September, a ruling that preceded a postponement of the vote until November.

Embalo dissolved parliament — which was dominated by opposition lawmakers after legislative elections in 2019 and 2023 — and has not allowed it to convene since December 2023. He has campaigned on development promises including infrastructure improvements and modernization of the main airport.

Security concerns: Guinea-Bissau remains one of the world’s poorest nations, with the World Bank estimating roughly half the population lives in poverty. The country has endured numerous coups and attempted coups since independence from Portugal more than 50 years ago. There have been at least two attempted coups since Embalo took office; the most recent, at the end of October, involved the arrest of several military officers accused of plotting to seize power.

The election will be watched closely by regional and international observers for indications of stability, respect for the vote and whether post-election tensions escalate or subside.

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