The 2003 Guinea-Bissau coup d'état was the bloodless military coup that took place in Guinea-Bissau on 14 September 2003, led by General Veríssimo Correia Seabra against incumbent President Kumba Ialá. Seabra referred to the "incapacity" of Ialá's government as justification for the takeover, together with a stagnant economy, political instability, and military discontent over unpaid salaries.[1][2] Ialá publicly announced his resignation on 17 September,[2] and a political agreement signed that month prohibited him from participating in politics for five years. A civilian-led transitional government led by businessman Henrique Rosa and PRS secretary general Artur Sanhá was set up at the end of September.[3][4]
The coup was largely seen as inevitable due to the deteriorating living conditions and erratic behavior of President Kumba Ialá, which had led to severe political instability and economic mismanagement. Although the international community condemned the unconstitutional seizure of power, there was a general acknowledgment that the coup was a necessary intervention to prevent further chaos, as democratic norms had been repeatedly violated under Ialá's regime.[5]
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