NIGERIA, Dec. 1 -- The sudden unconstitutional change of government in the Portuguese-speaking Guinea-Bissau, in late November 2025, was condemned in uncertain terms by the African Union and the Regional Economic blocs, the West African Elders Forum, as well as individual heads of state across Africa. The military removed Umaro Sissoco Embalo, who was elected president in 2019. He became the first president to be elected without the backing of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), and ultimately took office in February 2020.

The arguments were based on the fact that the military takeover of power was not in accordance of normative instruments, including the Constitutive Act of the African Union (2000), ...