What’s Next for Guinea-Bissau After Its Latest Military Takeover? Just hours before official election results were expected, soldiers in Guinea-Bissau seized power in a swift coup, raising fresh concerns about the stability of the small West African nation. The country, heavily dependent on cashew nut farming for its economy, has long struggled with political instability and has earned the unfortunate nickname of “Africa’s first narco-state” because of its role as a major transit point for cocaine moving from Latin America to Europe. Regional leaders have described the takeover as orchestrated, while many citizens now worry about what the return of military rule means for democracy, security, and efforts to curb drug trafficking. With a history of coups and fragile institutions, Guinea-Bissau faces renewed uncertainty as the military consolidates control and the path forward remains unclear. Observers are watching closely to see whether this intervention will lead to short-term order or deepen long-standing governance challenges.