President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the provision of protection and security for Guinea-Bissau’s opposition leader and November 2025 presidential candidate, Fernando Dia Da Costa, following “imminent threats” to his life.
Da Costa is to be accommodated at the Nigerian Embassy in Bissau as a proactive measure to safeguard his life, according to a letter dated November 30 from Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, to the President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Omar Alieu Touray.
“The decision to accommodate Mr. Da Costa within the Nigerian premises underscores our firm commitment to safeguarding the democratic aspirations and the sovereign will of the good people of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau,” Tuggar wrote, requesting that the ECOWAS Stabilisation Support Mission in Guinea-Bissau (ESSMGB) provide security while Da Costa remains on Nigerian premises.
The development follows a controversial military takeover in Guinea-Bissau after legislative and presidential elections held the previous weekend. Da Costa had claimed victory in the presidential election before then-President Umaro Emballo announced the military intervention. Emballo subsequently left the country, with reports suggesting the military junta posed a threat to Da Costa.
Nigeria’s intervention reflects its commitment to supporting democracy in the West African region and ensuring the safety of political figures facing imminent danger.