Guinea-Bissau has scheduled its presidential and legislative elections for December 6, a move aimed at restoring democratic governance after a military coup late last year disrupted the country’s electoral process. The date was announced via a presidential decree signed on Wednesday.
The coup occurred just one day before the national electoral commission was set to announce the results of a contested election. Army officers, calling themselves the Military High Command, overthrew incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embalo and installed Major-General Horta Inta-a as interim president.
The takeover drew condemnation from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which urged the military to restore order and allow the electoral process to proceed. The country’s electoral commission had reported being unable to complete the election after armed men seized ballots and destroyed servers containing voting results.
The newly announced December 6 elections signal Guinea-Bissau’s efforts to return to constitutional rule, although the security and political climate remain fragile in the aftermath of the coup. Regional and international observers are expected to monitor the process closely to ensure transparency and stability.
