Umaro Sissoco Embaló (born 1972) is a Bissau-Guinean politician and former military officer who served as the 6th President of Guinea-Bissau from 2020 until he was ousted in a coup d’état in late 2025. Known for his assertive “Embaloism” style—focused on order and discipline—his presidency was marked by frequent clashes with parliament and the opposition, culminating in a dramatic political collapse during the November 2025 general elections.
Key Biographical Information
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Umaro Mokhtar Sissoco Embaló |
| Born | September 23, 1972, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau |
| Rank | Brigadier General |
| Political Party | Madem G15 (Movement for Democratic Alternation) |
| Former Office | President of Guinea-Bissau (Feb 2020 – Nov 2025) |
| Current Status | In Exile (Congo-Brazzaville, via Senegal) |
| Succeeded By | General Horta Inta-A Na Man (Transitional Leader) |
Presidential Term and “Embaloism” (2020–2025)
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Contested Victory: Embaló came to power in the 2019 election. Though he won the runoff, the results were heavily disputed by his rival, Domingos Simões Pereira. Embaló famously held an “alternative” swearing-in ceremony in a hotel before his victory was fully validated by the Supreme Court.
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Rule by Decree: Throughout his term, he repeatedly dissolved the National People’s Assembly (parliament), most notably in 2022 and 2023, citing “persistent differences” and alleged coup plots. He governed for long stretches by decree, which critics labeled as a slide into authoritarianism.
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Foreign Policy: A fluent speaker of several languages, Embaló was a visible figure in regional diplomacy. He served as the Chair of ECOWAS (2022–2023) and maintained strong ties with leaders ranging from Senegal’s Macky Sall to Donald Trump, whom he visited in Washington in July 2025.
The 2025 Election and “Coup against Himself”
The end of Embaló’s presidency was one of the most unconventional chapters in West African political history.
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The Election Crisis: General elections were held on November 23, 2025. Early exit polls and partial results suggested a landslide victory for the opposition candidate, Fernando Dias da Costa. Both Embaló and Dias claimed victory, leading to an immediate standoff.
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The November 26 Coup: On November 26, 2025—just hours before the official results were due—members of the Presidential Guard and the military seized control of the capital. Embaló was detained, and the electoral process was suspended.
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The “Sham” Allegations: Opposition leaders and some regional officials (including Senegalese PM Ousmane Sonko) accused Embaló of orchestrating a “ceremonial” or “sham” coup against himself. They alleged he staged the military takeover to prevent the announcement of his election loss and to stay in power through a loyalist military junta.
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Exile: Following negotiations brokered by Senegal, Embaló was released and flown to Dakar on November 27. He subsequently relocated to Congo-Brazzaville in early December 2025, where he remains as of Christmas Day.
Current Status (Late 2025)
As of December 25, 2025, Guinea-Bissau is under the control of the High Military Command for the Restoration of National Security.
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Transitional Government: General Horta Inta-A Na Man was sworn in as the transitional president.
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New Administration: The military appointed Ilídio Vieira Té (Embaló’s campaign director) as Prime Minister. This move has reinforced accusations that the “coup” was a strategic realignment to keep Embaló’s political faction in power.
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International Isolation: The African Union and ECOWAS have condemned the unconstitutional change of government, though Embaló’s continued influence from abroad remains a major point of regional tension.