Guinea-Bissau has entered a crucial phase in its political calendar as campaigning officially begins for the presidential and legislative elections scheduled for November 23, 2025.
This comes amid heightened tensions, military arrests, and the notable absence of the country’s main opposition party.
The launch of the three-week campaign period comes in a climate of uncertainty and unease. The Guinea-Bissau Armed Forces announced that they have taken “all necessary measures” to ensure public order and the safety of citizens during the election period.
This follows the recent arrest of several senior military figures, including General Dahaba Na Walna, head of a military academy, along with commanders Domingos Nhanke and Mario Midana, developments that have further fueled concerns over stability.
The election takes place under unusual political conditions, most notably the absence of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), the nation’s historic liberation movement and main opposition force, alongside its leader Domingos Simões Pereira, a key challenger to incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embaló.
President Embaló, who was first elected in 2019 and assumed office in 2020, is seeking a second term amid an ongoing dispute over the official end date of his current mandate. While opposition groups claim his term expired in February 2025, the Supreme Court ruled that it extends until September 4, 2025.
