Reports from Guinea-Bissau indicate a tense situation in the capital, Bissau, following sustained gunfire near the national election commission's headquarters on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, afternoon.
Witnesses, including a Reuters correspondent and local residents, described scenes of chaos as people fled the area around 1300 GMT. The precise involvement of individuals or groups in the shooting remained unclear immediately following the incident.
Post-Election Tensions in a Coup-Prone Nation
This event unfolds during a period of heightened political sensitivity for the West African nation, which has a well-documented history of coups and political instability. The country held its crucial presidential election just days prior, on Sunday, November 23, 2025, with highly anticipated provisional results expected to be announced on Thursday, November 27, 2025.
The election has been a fiercely contested race, pitting the incumbent President, Umaro Sissoco Embalo, against his primary challenger, Fernando Dias. Both candidates had already declared victory in the first round of voting earlier this week, further escalating tensions and raising the stakes for the official announcement.
The sound of gunfire near such a critical institution during a volatile post-election period underscores the fragility of the political climate in Guinea-Bissau, as the nation awaits clarity on its leadership and the future stability of its democratic processes.