Guinea‑Bissau Military Establishes Transitional Council as Political Crisis Deepens

Guinea‑Bissau’s military junta has announced the creation of a National Transitional Council, formalizing its control just one week after seizing power and dissolving key democratic institutions. The Council, unveiled Thursday, will supervise all transitional governing bodies and draft a Transitional Charter meant to “restore constitutional legality,” according to the junta. No details were provided on how members will be chosen.

The announcement comes amid a disputed presidential election, where both leading candidates claimed victory before armed men stormed the electoral commission and stole tally sheets. The commission now says it cannot finalize results—an incident that unfolded the same day the military arrested President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and declared itself in charge.

In its resolution, the junta defended the takeover as a “duty” to prevent what it called the rising threat of ethnic civil conflict, arguing that the tense political atmosphere required intervention.

Guinea‑Bissau has endured decades of political instability, with more than nine coups or coup attempts since independence in 1974. The latest episode has intensified scrutiny from regional partners, though ECOWAS has struggled to gain concessions from the junta during recent negotiations.

The Transitional Charter announced this week dissolves the Judicial Council and places sweeping powers in the hands of the military for the duration of the transition.

The political crisis continues to generate alarm across the region, raising concerns that another prolonged transition—without credible elections—could further weaken state institutions in a country already grappling with poverty, governance breakdowns, and transnational criminal networks.

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