Guinea-Bissau’s military ruler, General Horta N’tam, has dismissed Lieutenant-General Sadji Fati, a senior officer widely regarded as close to ousted President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, in the latest sign that the junta is moving to dismantle the former leader’s influence within the security establishment.
According to a decree seen by on Wednesday, Fati was removed “with immediate effect.” He had served as head of the presidential civil office at the presidential palace and was a former defence minister and military adviser under Embaló. His dismissal adds to a growing list of removals involving officials connected to the country’s defence and security apparatus since the military takeover.
Fati’s ouster is the most recent move by the junta against personnel perceived to be loyal to Embaló, who was overthrown on November 26 and is now living in exile in Morocco. The coup came a day before the country was due to announce provisional results of presidential and legislative elections, prompting widespread concern about the future of democratic governance in the West African nation.
The dismissal of Fati follows a series of decisions suggesting that the junta is seeking to distance itself from the former president, despite initial suspicions among observers that Embaló may have played a role in the coup. Many analysts had speculated that the takeover was orchestrated to halt an election that Embaló appeared likely to lose.
Since seizing power, the military leadership has removed numerous members of Embaló’s presidential guard and sidelined most officers considered close to him. The purge has extended beyond the armed forces into the civilian government, with the junta recently dismissing Interior Minister General Mama Saliu Embaló and Fisheries Minister Maria Da Cruz Correia, both of whom were viewed as allies of the ousted leader.
The removal of Fati, a former defence minister who occupied a strategic position at the heart of the presidential administration, underscores the depth of the restructuring now underway. His role as head of the presidential civil office placed him in close proximity to the former president, making him one of the most prominent figures associated with Embaló’s inner circle to be dismissed so far.
The junta has said it intends to organise new presidential and legislative elections on December 6 as part of a promised return to civilian rule. However, the country’s National Electoral Commission cast doubt on that timetable last week when it declared that the “conditions are not in place to hold” the elections.
That announcement has deepened uncertainty over whether the transition will proceed as planned. It also raises questions about the junta’s commitment to restoring democratic institutions, particularly as it continues to remove officials linked to the previous administration while the electoral process remains suspended.
Before the electoral commission’s statement, Embaló told AFP that he intended to run again for the presidency. His declaration, coming from exile, signals that the former leader remains politically active despite his removal from power and the ongoing purge of his allies at home.
A country in political flux
Guinea-Bissau has a long history of political instability, military intervention and contested transitions of power. The latest crisis began when the military overthrew Embaló and suspended the electoral process, preventing the announcement of results that could have determined the country’s next leadership.
The junta’s actions since then have presented a mixed picture. While it has promised elections and a return to constitutional order, its continued removal of senior officials and its decision to dismiss figures close to the former president suggest a broader consolidation of control over state institutions.
For Embaló, the dismissal of Fati represents another significant loss of support within the military and government structures that once formed part of his administration. For the junta, it signals a determination to reshape the security and political landscape ahead of any future vote.
As the December 6 election date approaches, attention will now focus on whether the electoral commission’s concerns can be resolved and whether the junta will honour its pledge to hand power back to civilians. Until then, Guinea-Bissau remains in a state of political uncertainty, with the military firmly in control and the country’s democratic future still unresolved.