Why in the news?
Guinea-Bissau, one of the world’s most coup-prone nations, witnessed yet another military takeover on 26 November 2025, overthrowing President Umaro Sissoco Embaló. The coup was led by members of the Presidential Guard, marking the latest in a long line of disruptions to democratic governance in West Africa.
Geography & Country Profile
- Location: West Africa, bordered by
- Senegal (North)
- Guinea (East & South)
- Atlantic Ocean (West)
- Language: Portuguese (Lusophone Africa).
- Population: Approx. 2.25 million.
- HDI Rank: 174 / 193 (UNDP).
- Economy: Dominated by agriculture, especially cashew nuts
- Cashew = 80%+ of export earnings (World Bank).
- Known as a hub for drug trafficking (Latin America → Europe).
Political Background
- Independence from Portugal in 1974.
- One of the most unstable countries globally:
- Has had more successful coups than peaceful transfers of power.
- Termed the “Coup Trap” country – chronic cycle where military becomes the dominant political actor.
| In the recent years Chad, Guinea, Mali and Sudan caught the international attention for which one of the following reasons common to all of them? (2023)
(a) Discovery of rich deposits of rare earth elements (b) Establishement of Chinese military bases (c) Southward expansion of Sahara Desert (d) Successful coups |
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