Guinea-Bissau Junta Announces December 6 Elections Amid Transition
Junta leader Gen. Horta Inta-a says conditions are set for free and transparent elections after last year’s coup
- Guinea-Bissau’s military junta has scheduled legislative and presidential elections for December 6
- Junta leader Gen. Horta Inta-a says conditions now allow free, fair, and transparent elections to restore civilian rule
- The country faces long-standing political instability, weak institutions, and the influence of the cocaine trade
Guinea-Bissau’s military junta has announced that legislative and presidential elections will be held on December 6, 2026 marking a step toward the promised return to civilian rule following last year’s coup.
In a presidential decree, junta leader Gen. Horta Inta-a stated that conditions are now in place for free, fair, and transparent elections. The announcement offers a cautious glimmer of hope for a nation long beset by political instability and chronic upheaval.
Since gaining independence from Portugal more than five decades ago, Guinea-Bissau—one of the world’s poorest countries—has experienced repeated coups.
The country of 2.2 million people also serves as a key transit hub for cocaine trafficking between Latin America and Europe, a trade that experts say has weakened institutions, fueled rivalries, and perpetuated cycles of military intervention.
Following the November coup, the armed forces installed Inta-a as head of a military government tasked with overseeing a one-year transition. His administration now asserts that the necessary preparations have been completed to conduct elections designed to restore legitimacy and public confidence.
The pledge comes amid a broader wave of coups across West Africa, including recent upheavals in Mali and Guinea, highlighting ongoing regional instability.
