Military authorities in Guinea-Bissau have announced that presidential and legislative elections will be held on December 6, despite regional calls for a faster return to civilian rule.
Transitional President Horta N’Tam signed the decree on Wednesday following consultations with members of the National Transitional Council, military leaders, government officials, and representatives of the electoral commission. He told journalists that the necessary conditions for free and fair elections were in place.
The announcement comes after sustained pressure from the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), which has urged the junta to organise elections within a short transitional period following the November 2025 coup that ousted President Umaro Sissoco Embaló.
Ecowas had earlier rejected the military’s proposal of a one-year transition, suspended Guinea-Bissau from the bloc’s decision-making bodies, and warned of further sanctions. It is not yet clear how the regional body will respond to the newly announced election date.
The November coup sparked widespread condemnation, particularly as it occurred on the eve of the official declaration of presidential election results. Both President Embaló and his main rival, Fernando Dias, had claimed victory at the time.
The military justified its takeover by alleging it had foiled a plot to destabilise the politically fragile country. However, several regional observers, including former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, have questioned that narrative, suggesting the coup may have been orchestrated.
Under the transitional charter adopted after the coup, interim President N’Tam and his prime minister are barred from contesting the elections. Nonetheless, amid a pattern of prolonged military rule in parts of West Africa, observers remain cautious about whether Guinea-Bissau’s transition will proceed as scheduled.
