FG grants Embassy asylum to Guinea-Bissau opposition leader after coup

The Federal Government of Nigeria has granted asylum and protection to Fernando Dias da Costa, the opposition presidential candidate of Guinea-Bissau, following alleged threats to his life after a military coup in Guinea-Bissau.
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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the measure, allowing Da Costa to shelter within the premises of the Nigerian Embassy in Bissau. The decision was formalized in a letter dated November 30, 2025, from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, to the President of the ECOWAS Commission.
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The intervention comes days after a military coup which seized power on Wednesday, November 26, just three days after the presidential elections in which both the incumbent, Umaro Sissoco Embaló (who has since reportedly fled to Brazzaville), and Da Costa claimed victory.
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The Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs characterized the move as a measure to ensure the safety of Da Costa during the post-election and post-coup environment.
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The Federal Government of Nigeria has formally requested that ECOWAS to launch its Stabilization Support Mission in Guinea-Bissau (ESSMB) to extend protection and security to Da Costa while he remains sheltered in the Nigerian diplomatic compound.
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