Umaro Mokhtar Sissoco Embaló, born on 23 September 1972, is a Bissau-Guinean politician and former military officer who led Guinea-Bissau from 2020 until he was removed in a coup in November 2025. Before becoming president, he served as prime minister between 2016 and 2018. He rose to national prominence with a firm leadership style that he often described as Embaloism, which he said was based on order, discipline, and development. His presidency was a turbulent one, marked by political tension, coup attempts, and fierce rivalry with the opposition.
Umaro Sissoco Embalo Profile
| Name | Umaro Sissoco Embaló |
| Real Name | Umaro Mokhtar Sissoco Embaló |
| Date of Birth | 23 September 1972 |
| Age | 53 years |
| Nationality | Guinean |
| Occupation | Politician and Former Military Officer |
| Religion | Islam |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Net Worth | $10 Million |
| Copied from | contents101.com |
Educational Background
Embaló was born in Bissau into a Fulani Muslim family and spent much of his early adulthood studying abroad. He attended the Technical University of Lisbon, where he earned a degree in political science, before moving to Spain to continue his studies at the Complutense University of Madrid.
There, he completed both a master’s degree and a doctorate in international relations. Beyond his formal education, he took part in several defence and security courses in Belgium, Israel, South Africa, Japan, France, and Spain, training that later helped shape his rise in the Bissau-Guinean military. He eventually reached the rank of brigadier-general.
Career
Before entering politics, Embaló worked as an academic and lecturer, focusing on African and Middle Eastern affairs, defence matters, and international cooperation. He also served as Minister of African Affairs at one point, establishing his reputation in foreign policy circles.
His political career began in 2016 when he joined the PAIGC, Guinea-Bissau’s historic ruling party. Later that same year, President José Mário Vaz appointed him as prime minister. His time in office, however, was marked by disputes with the PAIGC leadership, and after two years of increasing tension, he resigned and aligned himself with the newly formed Madem G15 party.
In the 2019 presidential election, he ran as Madem G15’s candidate and won. He was sworn in as president in February 2020. During his presidency, he oversaw the withdrawal of ECOWAS troops who had been stationed in Guinea-Bissau since the 2012 coup. He also worked to strengthen ties with international organisations, including the IMF, and hosted several high-level diplomatic visits.
However, his government became known for political instability. He survived a coup attempt in 2022 and later dissolved the opposition-controlled parliament in 2022 and again in 2023, decisions that attracted heavy criticism. In 2024, he said he would not run again, but later changed his mind and announced his intention to seek another term. His official mandate expired in February 2025, but he stayed in office after the Constitutional Court extended the date to September.
Elections were eventually held in November 2025, and both Embaló and independent candidate Fernando Dias da Costa claimed victory. Before the results could be announced, the military staged a coup on 26 November and detained him. He was later released after ECOWAS intervention and moved into exile in Senegal.
Controversies
Embaló’s time in office was surrounded by controversy. Many opposition figures accused him of becoming steadily more authoritarian, especially after he dissolved parliament twice within two years. Critics also argued that he used coup attempts, real or exaggerated, as a way to justify tightening control over the country. The debate over his extended stay in office after his mandate officially expired added to the political tension.
The 2025 general election also became a major source of conflict. Embaló and his main rival both declared themselves winners long before the official announcement, setting the stage for confusion and unrest. After the coup that removed him, some civil society groups alleged that the entire incident might have been organised to prevent the release of election results, although Embaló has never responded to those accusations.
Umaro Sissoco Embalo Social Media Handle
https://www.instagram.com/usissocoembalo
Personal Life
Embaló comes from a Fulani Muslim family in Bissau and is widely known for his multilingual abilities. He speaks Portuguese and Spanish fluently and has working knowledge of English, French, Arabic, and Swahili.
Throughout his public life, he often portrayed himself as a decisive and disciplined leader, sometimes drawing comparisons between himself and well-known leaders like Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew and the Philippines’ Rodrigo Duterte. His military background and strict personal style played a major role in shaping his political identity.
Umaro Sissoco Embalo Net Worth
Umaro Sissoco Embalo’s net worth is estimated to be around $10 million.