The government of the Republic of South Africa has condemned the unconstitutional seizure of power by military elements in Guinea-Bissau.
The government said the timing of this act, during a critical phase of the democratic electoral process, demonstrates a profound disregard for constitutional order and the sovereign will of the people of Guinea-Bissau.
In unwavering support of the principle of “zero tolerance” for unconstitutional changes of government, as upheld by the African Union (AU), South Africa called for the immediate restoration of the legitimate civilian government and the unhindered completion of the electoral process.
“We urge all national stakeholders to pursue peaceful dialogue and affirm our commitment to work with the African Union and ECOWAS to support a swift return to constitutional order and lasting stability in Guinea-Bissau.”
The takeover occurred on November 26, 2025, just one day before provisional results of a tightly contested presidential election were expected to be announced. Army officers operating under the name “High Military Command for the Restoration of Order” ousted incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and installed a transitional head of state for a one-year term.
The coup reportedly involved gunfire in the capital, Bissau, the detention of senior political figures including a former prime minister, and a suspension of the electoral process.
International and regional actors responded swiftly. The AU, ECOWAS, and the United Nations (UN) condemned the takeover, called for an unconditional restoration of constitutional order, and demanded the release of detained officials.
Guinea-Bissau has a long history of political instability and military intervention. Since its independence in 1974, the country has experienced multiple coups and attempted coups. This latest episode underscores enduring challenges, including weak institutions, disputed elections, and vulnerabilities to military interference, that continue to threaten democratic consolidation, Reuters reported.
Moreover, Guinea-Bissau has long been plagued by drug-trafficking and illicit trade, which international observers have said exacerbate governance and security problems.
The military takeover in Madagascar
A recent, similar development unfolded in Madagascar. In October 2025, an elite military unit known as CAPSAT, itself implicated in a previous 2009 coup, declared it was seizing power after weeks of youth-led protests over persistent water and electricity shortages, poor services, corruption, and economic mismanagement.
On October 14, 2025, CAPSAT announced that it was taking control of the armed forces, dissolving key state institutions, and forming a transitional government. The protests began on September 25, 2025, and were driven by a grassroots youth-led group calling itself “Gen Z Madagascar.”
The then-president, Andry Rajoelina, fled the country amid the crisis. CAPSAT’s commander, Michael Randrianirina, was later installed as head of the transitional government.
Although some in Madagascar celebrated the ousting of Rajoelina as a victory over systemic corruption and misgovernance, many analysts expressed concern that the military takeover, even if initially welcomed, risks repeating patterns of instability and undermines long-term democratic governance
