The Challenge of Ending Political Violence in Guinea Bissau

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the military coup in Guinea-Bissau on April 12, 2012, framing it as part of a recurring pattern of political instability and military interference in the state's governance.

• Guinea-Bissau is characterized by a high frequency of power transitions via military coups and political assassinations, with the army posing a significant threat to peace and stability. The country entered its third post-coup transition in two years following the coup on April 12, 2012.
• The military's influence is maintained through collaborations with politicians and top officers, allowing the army to protect a lucrative drug trafficking network that has existed in the country for the last decade. This influence undermines democratic norms and state building.
• The April 2012 coup targeted Prime Minister Carlos Gomes Junior and his reform agenda, which was supported by Angola. While the military junta cited the presence of Angolan forces as a justification, the document asserts this argument is fallacious.
• The military junta in Guinea-Bissau established a two-year transitional government in partnership with political parties. This move is viewed as potentially setting a bad precedent for legitimizing regime change through interim governments, similar to the regional response to the coup in Mali.
• Prior to the coup, a tripartite mission involving ECOWAS, the AU, and the UN met with the military to emphasize the need to prevent electoral disruption. There were recommendations for an ECOWAS-led peace support mission, led by President Alpha Condé, to replace Angolan forces and implement security sector reforms.

APA

Zounmenou, D., & Okeke, J. M. (2012). The Challenge of Ending Political Violence in Guinea Bissau. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.org/iss-today/the-challenge-of-ending-political-violence-in-guinea-bissau

Chicago

Zounmenou, David, and Jide Martyns Okeke. The Challenge of Ending Political Violence in Guinea Bissau. Institute for Security Studies, 2012. https://issafrica.org/iss-today/the-challenge-of-ending-political-violence-in-guinea-bissau.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Zounmenou |first1=David |last2=Okeke |first2=Jide Martyns |title=The Challenge of Ending Political Violence in Guinea Bissau |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=2012 |url=https://issafrica.org/iss-today/the-challenge-of-ending-political-violence-in-guinea-bissau |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{zounmenou2012challenge, author = {Zounmenou, David and Okeke, Jide Martyns}, title = {{The Challenge of Ending Political Violence in Guinea Bissau}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2012}, url = {https://issafrica.org/iss-today/the-challenge-of-ending-political-violence-in-guinea-bissau}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }