West Africa faces renewed political turmoil as military officers seize control of Guinea-Bissau, arresting President Umaro Sissoco Embalo and suspending the country's electoral process just three days after contested general elections.
Military Seizes Control in Latest West African Coup
According to military sources, army officers announced they had taken total control of the coup-prone nation, closing borders and halting democratic processes. President Embalo, who came to power in February 2020, was detained at the general staff headquarters where sources confirm he is being well treated.
The political upheaval in Guinea-Bissau represents the latest in a series of military takeovers that have destabilized West Africa in recent years, raising concerns about the region's democratic stability.
Nigerian Cleric Sounds Alarm for ECOWAS
Amid the deepening crisis, prominent Nigerian religious leader Primate Babatunde Elijah Ayodele has issued a stark warning to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church in Lagos predicted that ECOWAS will face overwhelming confusion in 2026 due to what he described as a high influx of crises across the continent.
In a statement released on Sunday, November 30, and signed by his media aide, Primate Ayodele urged the regional body to immediately engage African leaders who are reportedly undermining democratic processes.
Nine Nations Facing Potential Revolution
The outspoken cleric specifically identified nine African countries that he claims will face significant political upheaval, potentially through coups or other revolutionary means. The nations warned include:
- Cameroon
- Chad
- Niger
- Mali
- Tanzania
- Benin Republic
- Ethiopia
- South Sudan
- Uganda
Primate Ayodele emphasized that these countries should prepare for serious challenges ahead and called on their leadership to address governance issues or face potential revolution from their citizens.
Western Interference and African Leadership Crisis
The religious leader attributed Africa's ongoing political and security challenges to what he described as mismanagement fueled by Western world interference. He asserted that this external influence, combined with poor leadership, has created conditions ripe for revolution across the continent.
Africa is being troubled by the Western world, empowered by the bad leaders, Ayodele stated, warning that the continent risks becoming permanently subservient to foreign powers unless immediate corrective measures are taken.
He called on African leaders to do the needful or expect revolution in their countries, suggesting that popular uprisings might be imminent if governance doesn't improve significantly.
Political Condemnation of Guinea-Bissau Coup
The military takeover in Guinea-Bissau has drawn sharp criticism from political figures across Africa. Former All Progressives Congress deputy national publicity secretary Timi Frank condemned the action as a dangerous assault on democracy.
Frank alleged that the coup represented part of a coordinated political-military plot designed to prevent a peaceful transition of power, particularly after early indications suggested that President Embalo might have lost the recent elections.
The political crisis in Guinea-Bissau has prompted emergency meetings among West African leaders, including Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, as the region grapples with yet another democratic setback.
