Guinea-Bissau military halts final vote tally, prompting UN condemnation

By Alex Fernandez Reporter

Life News Today

Life News Today reported last week how Guinea-Bissau voters waited before sunrise, carrying stools and water for the long line to cast their vote for their next president. Citizens stepped out of taxis and minibuses prepared to stand for hours to participate in the vote; a scene reflecting communal purpose.

What began with optimism ended in a military coup. Civilian vendors closed their kiosks, and normal street activity declined as families stayed indoors. Instead of guarding polling stations, the military seized the locations where ballots were being tallied and certification was underway, interrupting access to vote data. On Nov. 26, the United Nations condemned the military takeover in Guinea-Bissau after soldiers halted the certification of election results and removed civilian authority, preventing a verified final count.

Independent radio stations went off air as their equipment was shut down or removed from studios. Monitors used to display district results stopped showing data. Internet service became intermittent across Bissau, interrupting communication and preventing public access to election updates or commentary. Although information coming out of Guinea-Bissau has slowed as media restrictions and disrupted communications persist, one resident, who wished to remain anonymous for safety reasons, told Reuters,

“We do not know what is happening and we cannot get news. We just wait.”

At least 18 officials and political figures were detained and cut off from contact. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) issued a statement on Nov. 28. In that statement, UN High Commissioner Volker Türk said, “I am deeply alarmed by reports of human rights violations in Guinea-Bissau following the coup, including arbitrary arrests and detentions of Government officials and opposition leaders, as well as threats against and intimidation of media houses and journalists.” Türk called for the immediate release of every detained individual.

As of this week, Guinea-Bissau remains under military control. Major-General Horta Inta-A was sworn in as the transitional president on Nov. 27, halting the certification of election results. The transitional leadership installed by the armed forces now exercises executive authority in place of elected civilian governance. Inta-A pledged a one-year transitional period and appointed a 28-member cabinet dominated by allies of the deposed president. The election process from Nov. 23 remains frozen with no certified result released to the public, and the military has not issued a timeline for resuming the vote count or restoring civilian command.

Military leaders claimed they intervened due to alleged irregularities in the vote counting process and accusations of interference by civilian political factions. They stated that their actions were intended to prevent unrest and preserve stability while the election results were still being verified. No independent confirmation was given about these allegations. The claims were made without supporting documentation or visibility into the halted certification process. Speaking on behalf of the military command, Dinis Incanha said, “We have assumed control to guarantee the security of citizens and ensure stability while the situation is clarified.” Observers noted the country has a history of tensions between military groups and elected officials.

A curfew remains in force in parts of the capital and military checkpoints control movement across key roadways. Media operations remain restricted. Several independent radio stations are still off the air and digital communications continue to operate at reduced or inconsistent connectivity. Public gatherings are restricted under the military directive banning protests and strikes.

The African Union suspended Guinea-Bissau following the coup and stated that the country violated the continental principle against unconstitutional changes in power. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) dispatched an envoy delegation to meet with military leaders and press for constitutional restoration. The visits and discussions have not yet produced a published road map for returning governance to elected structures.

Many of the individuals detained during the coup remain in custody without external communication. Their legal status and location were never publicly disclosed by the authorities. The implications for governmental continuity, judicial oversight, and cabinet-level function remain unresolved in the absence of free legislative or judicial review.

The country’s borders, which were initially sealed following the coup, remain under heightened scrutiny. Civilian travel inside and outside the country is monitored. The broader effect on everyday life continues as residents adjust routines in response to military presence and uncertainty about governance direction. Many residents avoided public squares entirely, choosing side streets and indirect paths to workplaces or markets to stay away from checkpoints. Markets crowded on election day thinned out. Everyday life shifted from open movement to measured caution, reflecting the atmosphere of uncertainty created by the military’s continued control.

Until clearer steps are taken to restore the election process or provide verified information about the intervention, Guinea-Bissau remains suspended between the civic momentum of voters who participated in good faith and the military authority that now governs daily life.