BISSAU, Guinea-Bissau — Voters in coup-prone Guinea-Bissau went to the polls on Sunday, November 23, 2025, in tightly contested presidential and legislative elections, with incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embaló facing 11 challengers as he seeks to become the country’s first leader in three decades to win a second consecutive term.
Embaló’s main rival is Fernando Dias, a relatively new political figure who enjoys the backing of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) — the historic liberation movement that led the fight for independence from Portugal in the 1960s and 1970s.
The PAIGC was barred from fielding its own candidates this year after authorities said it missed the deadline for submitting paperwork, forcing its members to rally behind Dias.
Analysts predict a close race between the two men. A runoff will be required if no candidate secures more than 50% of the vote.
Wearing his trademark red keffiyeh, Embaló cast his vote in the eastern city of Gabu, expressing optimism about his chances.
“I call on everyone to vote massively, to elect the person who will bring stability and progress to Guinea-Bissau, to build this country,” he said.
Vote counting began shortly after polls closed at 1700 GMT. National electoral commission spokesperson Idrissa Diallo said turnout exceeded 65%, with provisional results expected on Thursday.
A History of Coups and a Growing Drug Trade
The small West African nation — wedged between Senegal and Guinea — has experienced at least nine coups since gaining independence in 1974.
Since taking office in 2020, Embaló claims to have survived three more attempts to overthrow his government, though opponents accuse him of exaggerating crises to justify crackdowns — allegations he denies.
He has campaigned on promises to restore stability, expand infrastructure, and improve access to clean water, but his presidency has been dogged by accusations that his mandate expired in February.
His opponent, Dias, has accused the president of seeking to undermine state institutions and consolidate power if re-elected.
In an interview with Reuters on the eve of the election, Dias also criticised Embaló for failing to tackle Guinea-Bissau’s lucrative cocaine trade, which continues to use the country as a major transit route from South America to Europe.
“He is the head of government. Nobody does anything without his authorization,” Dias said.
Embaló has denied any connection between his administration and the drug trade.
A report published in August by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC) said cocaine trafficking in Guinea-Bissau may now be “more profitable than at any point in the country’s history.”
“Regarding drug trafficking, only the political will of our leaders can help our country wage a crusade against this scourge,” said Jorge Monteiro, a 38-year-old customs officer who voted in Bissau.
A Polarised Political Climate
Nearly half of Guinea-Bissau’s two million citizens were registered to vote. Election day proceeded peacefully, though observers noted a deeply polarised political environment.
“The current electoral climate is extremely tense, with a very polarised political landscape,” said Lucia Bird Ruiz-Benitez de Lugo, director of the Observatory of Illicit Economies in West Africa, part of GI-TOC. “The opposition have significant and longstanding popular support; however, their campaigning efforts have been very restricted, and it is not an even playing field.”
Public opinion appeared divided in the final days of campaigning.
Saico Cande, a tailor, voiced confidence that Embaló could bring stability and address food shortages, while Berta da Goya, a businesswoman, said she remained uneasy over the president’s decision to dissolve parliament following what his government described as a failed coup attempt in late 2023.
