oluwatosin oyeniyi BISSAU, Guinea-Bissau — Guinea-Bissau’s military leader, General Horta N’tam, has dismissed Lieutenant-General Sadji Fati, a former defence minister and close associate of ousted president Umaro Sissoco Embaló, in the latest move to remove officials linked to the former administration.
Fati, who served as Embaló’s military adviser and headed the presidential civil office at the presidential palace, was dismissed with immediate effect, according to a decree reported by Agence France-Presse (AFP). The decree did not specify the reason for his removal.
The decision comes amid a series of personnel changes affecting Guinea-Bissau’s defence, security and government institutions since the military seized power in November 2025. Several officials associated with Embaló have been removed from influential positions as the junta consolidates its control.
The reshuffling is unfolding alongside growing uncertainty over the country’s political transition. Although the military authorities initially pledged to organise new presidential and legislative elections in December 2026, the vote has since been postponed without a replacement date.
Junta removes officials linked to former president
Fati’s dismissal follows the removal of other figures associated with Embaló, including former interior minister General Mama Saliu Embaló and former fisheries minister Maria Da Cruz Correia.
Members of the former president’s presidential guard and officers considered close to him have also been removed from positions of influence or placed under military supervision.
The changes suggest that the military leadership is seeking to reduce the influence of Embaló’s network within state institutions, particularly the security apparatus. However, the authorities have not publicly explained the specific reasons behind Fati’s dismissal.
Embaló was overthrown in a military takeover on November 26, 2025, one day before provisional results from presidential and legislative elections were expected to be announced. The military suspended the electoral process and installed a transitional administration.
The circumstances surrounding the takeover remain politically contested. Some observers suspected that Embaló may have orchestrated the coup to interrupt an electoral process he appeared likely to lose, but that allegation has not been established as fact.
Embaló is now in exile in Morocco. Guinea-Bissau’s military leadership has also barred his return, citing national security and public-order concerns. Despite his removal from office, the former president has said he intends to contest the presidency again.
December elections postponed
The dismissal comes at a critical moment for Guinea-Bissau’s promised return to civilian rule.
The junta had initially scheduled fresh presidential and legislative elections for December 6, 2026. However, on October 8, Prime Minister Ilídio Vieira Té announced that the elections would have to be delayed, without specifying a new date.
The National Electoral Commission had already warned that the necessary conditions for holding the vote were not in place. Its vice-president, Felisberta Moura Vaz, said the commission had communicated its concerns to Horta N’tam.
The prime minister also questioned whether political parties were adequately prepared to contest the elections, saying that many had leadership structures that were not in an ideal position for the process.
The postponement leaves uncertainty over how long the military-led transition will last and when voters will again be able to choose their national leaders. Without a clear timetable, questions remain about the arrangements for political participation, electoral preparations and the transfer of authority to an elected government.
A familiar challenge for Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Bissau has experienced repeated military interventions and political instability since gaining independence from Portugal in 1973, with formal independence recognised in 1974. Its history of coups and attempted coups has repeatedly disrupted constitutional government.
The current transition faces a familiar test: whether the authorities can establish a credible route back to civilian rule after taking power by force.
Removing officials associated with a former administration may alter the balance of influence within government and the security services. However, personnel changes alone do not resolve questions about institutional independence, political representation or the legitimacy of the transitional authorities.
The absence of a new election date adds to those concerns. A credible transition would require transparent electoral arrangements, clarity about the rules governing political participation and a timetable that allows parties and election officials to prepare for a competitive vote.
Regional and international partners are also likely to watch whether the authorities honour their commitments to restore constitutional government.
What comes next?
The junta has yet to provide a new date for the postponed elections. In the meantime, the removal of senior figures linked to Embaló is reshaping the political and security environment in Bissau.
Fati’s dismissal may further weaken the former president’s institutional connections inside the country, but its broader significance will depend on the junta’s next steps and whether it provides a credible path towards elections.
For Guinea-Bissau, the central question is no longer simply whether the military will hold a vote in December. That timetable has already been abandoned. The more immediate issue is whether the transitional authorities will establish a clear, transparent and workable process for returning political power to civilians.
Until a new electoral calendar is announced and the conditions for a credible vote are addressed, the country’s political future will remain uncertain.
