Guinea-Bissau at a Crossroads: Church Urges Calm and Prayer After Coup

Guinea-Bissau is entering a period of acute political uncertainty after the military seized control of the government this week, suspended the electoral process and installed a transitional president. The capital, Bissau, has been marked by roadblocks, closed markets and an atmosphere of tension, leaving communities anxious as they navigate yet another moment of national instability.

At the heart of this unfolding crisis, Bishop Bobó Gomes Có—president of both the Alliance of Churches of Guinea-Bissau and the Northwest Region of the AEA—has issued an urgent appeal to the wider African evangelical family for steadfast prayer and solidarity. In his message to National Evangelical Fellowship leaders, he described the rapidly deteriorating situation on the ground, including restrictions on movement and disruptions to essential services. “As we speak vehicles are not allowed to move and there are roadblocks to the down town.” The bishop added that many shops and market stalls remain closed, though believers are still finding ways to support one another through acts of generosity and shared resources. He noted that internet networks were largely down, deepening the sense of isolation, yet affirmed that “it is not well but we are in no danger.” Bishop Bobó urged the church to continue praying for divine intervention and for this charade to end, calling for God’s protection over the nation in this fragile hour.

Meanwhile, the political landscape continues to shift rapidly. The army has sworn in Gen Horta N’Tam as transitional president for a one-year term, just a day before electoral authorities were due to publish provisional presidential and parliamentary results. Both outgoing President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and opposition candidate Fernando Dias had claimed victory in last Sunday’s vote, heightening uncertainty before the military halted the process entirely. Several political figures, including Dias, former Prime Minister Domingos Simões Pereira and Interior Minister Botché Candé, were reportedly detained during the takeover.

According to credible news sources, late Thursday, Embaló was released by military officials and flown to neighbouring Senegal on a chartered military aircraft following diplomatic efforts by ECOWAS. Senegalese authorities confirmed his arrival, describing him as “safe and sound.” In Bissau, soldiers continue to patrol the streets, though borders that were abruptly closed during the coup have now been reopened.

Regional and international bodies—including ECOWAS, the African Union and the United Nations—have condemned the army’s actions and called for a swift return to constitutional rule. Guinea-Bissau, long affected by political instability and entrenched military influence, has now experienced at least nine coups or attempted coups since independence in 1974.

Through this moment of national distress, the voice of the church in Guinea-Bissau remains clear: calling the global Christian community to prayer, intercession and hope for peace, justice and a restored democratic process. Bishop Bobó has urged the church to arise and pray for the release of all political prisoners and that the election results will be published in order to guarantee stability and peace. “The Lord had been speaking through his servants about a coming shaking. Pray for mercy in the place of judgement and the prayers for peace be answered,“ the bishop concluded. The church in Guinea-Bissau requests for your prayers, that every plan to destabilize an already struggling nation be paralyzed in the name of Jesus.