Mon Dec 01 19:13:09 UTC 2025: ## Nigeria Offers Protection to Guinea-Bissau Opposition Leader Amidst Post-Coup Turmoil

Bissau, Guinea-Bissau – As regional pressure mounts following a military coup in Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria has authorized protection for opposition leader Fernando Dias da Costa, citing an “imminent threat to his life.” The move comes as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) engages in mediation efforts to restore constitutional order after the disputed presidential election that triggered the coup.

President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria ordered the protection after concerns for Dias da Costa’s safety were raised. According to a letter from Nigeria’s foreign minister to ECOWAS, Dias da Costa is currently residing at the Nigerian embassy in Bissau. The letter also requested ECOWAS to deploy troops to provide additional security.

The political crisis erupted following the November 23rd presidential election, with both incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embalo and Dias da Costa claiming victory before official results were released. The military seized power three days later, deposing Embalo, who has since fled to Brazzaville, Republic of Congo. A transitional government led by former army chief of staff General Horta Inta-A has been installed.

An ECOWAS delegation, led by Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio, met with the military leaders in Bissau this week, urging them to reinstate constitutional governance. “We’ve had today very fruitful discussions,” said Sierra Leone’s Foreign Minister Timothy Musa Kabba, highlighting the concerns expressed by both sides.

ECOWAS has already suspended Guinea-Bissau from all its decision-making bodies, demanding a swift return to constitutional order. The coup has drawn widespread international condemnation, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres calling for the immediate restoration of democracy and the release of detained officials.

Meanwhile, the main opposition party, the African Independence Party for Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), reported that its headquarters were “illegally invaded by heavily armed militia groups,” further escalating tensions in the capital. The PAIGC had been barred from presenting a presidential candidate in the recent election, a move that was criticized as a suppression of dissent. The situation in Guinea-Bissau remains volatile, with the future of its democracy uncertain.

Read More