Guinea-Bissau’s ruling military authorities say the country will return to the polls later this year, announcing a firm date for elections months after seizing power.
In a decree issued Wednesday, junta leader Gen. Horta Inta-A Na Man said the groundwork for credible voting had been completed, clearing the way for combined legislative and presidential elections on Dec. 6. He said conditions now exist to guarantee a process that is free, fair and transparent.
The announcement comes as Guinea-Bissau continues to struggle with chronic political instability. Since gaining independence from Portugal more than five decades ago, the small West African nation has experienced repeated coups and attempted putsches, most recently an abortive takeover last October. With a population of about 2.2 million, the country has also earned a reputation as a major transit point for cocaine shipments moving from Latin America to Europe, a dynamic analysts say has deepened corruption and power struggles.
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Following the November coup, the military’s top command installed Inta-A Na Man, a former army chief of staff, as head of a transitional government. The junta has said the interim administration will govern for one year while preparing the country for elections.
Guinea-Bissau’s instability reflects a broader pattern across West Africa, where military takeovers have surged since 2020. Coup leaders have often justified their actions as necessary to restore security or address entrenched governance failures.
In Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, soldiers ousted elected governments while pledging to curb violence by extremist groups. In neighboring Guinea, Gen. Mamady Doumbouya seized power in 2021, citing the need to combat corruption and reset the political system.
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