Senegal Prime Minister Declares Guinea-Bissau Coup a ‘Sham’

Overview

Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko on Friday condemned what he described as a “sham coup” in neighboring Guinea-Bissau, following reports of clashes between army factions earlier in the week.

Details

Speaking in Dakar, Sonko said the situation was not a genuine coup attempt, but rather “an internal maneuver aimed at reshaping power within the Guinean military.” His remarks came after gunfire and unrest were reported in Bissau, the capital of Guinea-Bissau, raising fears of renewed instability in the small West African country.

According to local media and security sources, tensions arose after Prime Minister Geraldo Martins’ loyal forces clashed with troops aligned with President Umaro Sissoco Embaló. The dispute reportedly stemmed from disagreements over military leadership and government appointments.

Regional Response

West African leaders have expressed concern that continued instability in Guinea-Bissau could worsen regional tensions. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has previously deployed troops to Bissau to support the constitutional order, and officials in Abuja and Accra called for restraint and dialogue to resolve the crisis peacefully.

Quote

“What happened in Guinea-Bissau is not a coup in the traditional sense. It is a planned distraction meant to consolidate certain factions' grip on power,”
— Ousmane Sonko, Senegalese Prime Minister.

Background

Guinea-Bissau, a nation of about two million people, has experienced multiple coups and attempted power grabs since its independence from Portugal in 1974. The recent unrest followed a period of relative calm after Embaló’s election in 2019.

Summary

Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko denounced Guinea-Bissau’s alleged coup as a staged act meant to disguise internal power struggles, highlighting growing regional concerns about stability in West Africa.

Reuters on MSN — 2025-11-29