Nigeria Provides Asylum to Guinean Presidential Candidate Amid Coup Fallout

Fri Dec 05 2025 15:50:33 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Following a military coup in Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria has granted asylum to presidential hopeful Fernando Dias da Costa, ensuring his safety during a politically charged transition.

Amid rising tensions in Guinea-Bissau following a recent coup that disrupted electoral proceedings, Nigeria has extended asylum to presidential candidate Fernando Dias da Costa. This move comes as the military junta that assumed power has intensified its grip on political discourse. Dias, who fled his campaign headquarters to evade arrest, had been deemed a primary challenger to the ousted president. The situation continues to evolve as the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) calls for a resolution.

Nigeria has granted asylum to Guinea-Bissau presidential candidate Fernando Dias da Costa just days after a coup prevented the results of the recent election from being announced.

The 47-year-old, who ran as a candidate for the Party for Social Renewal, was under special protection at the Nigerian embassy, following threats made against him, Nigeria's foreign minister said.

Dias was the main challenger to Umaro Sissoco Embaló, who was seeking a second term as president and has left the country following the military takeover.

A delegation from the West African bloc Ecowas has been in the country, urging the military to step aside and release the results of the vote.

Both Embaló and Dias had claimed victory in the presidential poll held on 23 November.

The PAIGC party, the liberation movement that ended Portuguese colonial rule, had been barred from fielding a candidate.

The coup took place three days after the vote. The military suspended the electoral process, blocked the release of the results and insisted it was acting to thwart a plot to destabilise the politically unstable country.

The junta has also tightened restrictions in the country, banning all demonstrations and all disturbing actions of peace and stability in the country.

Tensions remain high in the capital, Bissau. PAIGC said its headquarters had been illegally invaded by heavily armed militia groups following the coup.

Its leader, Domingos Pereira, was arrested on the day of the coup, according to family and party members.

Dias said he escaped from his campaign headquarters on the day of the coup as armed men came to arrest him.

Nigeria's Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar said President Bola Tinubu had agreed to give Dias protection inside the Nigerian embassy in Bissau.

The decision to accommodate Mr. Dias underscores Nigeria's commitment to safeguarding the democratic aspirations of Guinea-Bissau's people.

Ecowas leaders have suspended Guinea-Bissau from all decision-making bodies until constitutional order is restored. The true motives behind the coup in Guinea-Bissau remain unclear amid speculation that it may have been staged.

Guinea-Bissau has witnessed at least nine coups or attempted coups over the last five decades, highlighting its troubled political landscape.