𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐚-𝐁𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐮 𝐀𝐫𝐦𝐲 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐭

𝗕𝗜𝗦𝗦𝗔𝗨, 𝗢𝗰𝘁. 𝟯𝟭, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱— Guinea-Bissau’s armed forces have arrested several senior military officers accused of plotting to overthrow the government, Deputy Chief of Staff Mamadou Kourouma announced on Friday.

Among those detained on Thursday in the capital, Bissau, were General Dahaba Na Walna and Commanders Domingos Nhanke and Mario Midana, according to Kourouma. He did not disclose the full list of arrested officers.

Kourouma described the incident as “a new attempt to subvert the constitutional order.”

Reuters said it was unable to reach the officers or their representatives for comment.

The arrests come less than a month before Guinea-Bissau’s scheduled legislative and presidential elections on November 23, intensifying political tensions in a country long marked by instability.

𝑯𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝑪𝒐𝒖𝒑𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑼𝒏𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕

Since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974, Guinea-Bissau has experienced numerous coups, attempted coups, and military uprisings.

In 1980, Prime Minister João Bernardo Vieira seized power in a bloodless coup, setting a precedent for military intervention in politics.

Further upheavals followed in 1998–1999, 2003, and 2012, with the army repeatedly accused of interfering in governance.

In 2022, President Umaro Sissoco Embaló survived an armed attack on the presidential palace, which authorities also described as an attempted coup.

The military’s pervasive influence has often undermined civilian rule, while allegations of corruption and drug trafficking have compounded instability.

𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐧

The latest arrests are likely to draw attention from ECOWAS and other regional partners, who have repeatedly urged Guinea-Bissau to strengthen civilian control over the armed forces.

Observers warn that the allegations could heighten uncertainty ahead of elections, with fears that renewed unrest could derail fragile democratic progress.

“The situation remains fluid,” a political analyst in Bissau told local media. “Guinea-Bissau’s challenge has always been finding a lasting balance between the barracks and the ballot box.”

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭

Authorities have not confirmed whether formal charges will be filed against the detained officers.

Calls for transparency and due process are growing amid public concern over potential political motives behind the arrests.

The government has urged citizens to remain calm, while security forces continue operations in Bissau and surrounding areas.