DILI, 29 November 2025 (TATOLI) — The g7+ Election Observation Mission has officially concluded its role as observers in Guinea-Bissau’s general presidential and parliamentary elections, held on November 23, 2025.
The mission team was composed of Deputy Director of the Electoral Commission of the Solomon Islands and Head of Mission, Christina Joanna Mitini; g7+ Director of Operations, Felix Piedade; Director-General of Timor-Leste’s Technical Secretariat for Electoral Administration (STAE), Elviro Fernandes Moniz; Secretary-General of the National Electoral Commission of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, Melvim Nascimento Castro; g7+ Protocol Officer and Partner, Elísio Monteiro Valadares; and g7+ Personal Assistant, Vitor Liu Gonçalves.
From November 18–23, 2025, the g7+ mission carried out activities including meetings with political parties, Guinea-Bissau’s National Electoral Commission (CNE), and other observer missions such as those from the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), the African Union, and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The team also monitored the presidential and legislative elections.
On November 25, 2025, following their observation work, the g7+ team presented its preliminary report at a press conference organized by the African Union and ECOWAS, alongside other observer groups including CPLP.
According to Felix Piedade, g7+ Director of Operations, the situation in Guinea-Bissau took a dramatic turn on November 26, 2025, just one day before the CNE was expected to announce election results. Gunfire erupted in Bissau, causing widespread panic as residents fled in search of safety.
“Within hours, Guinea-Bissau’s military commander declared that the armed forces had taken control of the state due to the electoral crisis. The president was deposed, the electoral process was immediately suspended, and all borders – land, sea, and air were closed under a declared state of emergency. On November 26–27, Bissau was nearly deserted, with no movement in the city,” Piedade told Tatoli in Lisbon.
He emphasized that the sudden closure of Guinea-Bissau’s borders forced the g7+ mission to change its travel plans, delaying their departure originally scheduled for November 27.
For two days, the team was unable to leave their hotel or follow developments, as social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok were completely shut down.
By November 28, 2025, conditions in Bissau began to normalize. Public transportation resumed, and citizens returned to daily activities. The g7+ mission was finally able to depart Guinea-Bissau, arriving in Lisbon, Portugal, on the evening of November 28, before continuing their journey back to Timor-Leste.
Journalist: Arminda Fonseca
Editor: Cancio Ximenes/Rafael Ximenes de A. Belo
