Pray for Guinea-Bissau
Bissau, the capital
Photo: Original: Colleen Taugher from Lewiston Idaho, USA Modifications: The original uploader wa, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
About Guinea-Bissau
The capital is Bissau. People speak Portuguese, Guinea-Bissau Creole and many local languages. Islam is the largest faith, with a large Christian minority and many who follow traditional beliefs.
Source: Wikipedia, with the cited sources it lists.
Prayer briefing for Guinea-Bissau
Last updated November 2026. Facts come from the sources listed below.
Current events
Guinea-Bissau has been under military rule since the coup of 26 November 2025. On 30 August voters approved a new constitution, with about 70% voting yes, though the opposition urged a boycott. On 8 October the transitional Prime Minister, Ilidio Vieira Te, said the elections set for 6 December cannot be held on that date because legal deadlines, including for filing candidacies, were missed. The election commission called a December vote technically unlikely, and a new calendar is expected.
We pray for: Immediate relief, safety and urgent help.
Leadership and politics
General Horta Inta-A, also known as Horta N'Tam, is transitional president and head of the High Military Command, and Ilidio Vieira Te is Prime Minister. Under the transitional charter the General cannot stand in the election. Opposition leader Domingos Simoes Pereira, who faces charges linked to an alleged coup attempt and is now in Lisbon, says the conditions for a vote are not in place.
We pray for: Wisdom, integrity and justice for those in authority.
Economic health
The economy depends heavily on cashew nuts. The IMF estimates growth of about 5.8% in 2025, helped by strong cashew exports, and expects it to slow in 2026, with risks from high fuel prices and bad weather. More than two thirds of people live below the poverty line.
We pray for: Provision for families and honest stewardship.
Social and cultural issues
The main peoples are the Fulani, Balanta, Mandinka, Manjak and Papel, and Guinea-Bissau Creole is the shared language of unity. Political instability and drug trafficking through the country put pressure on communities. A rights group reported deaths and violence linked to witchcraft accusations, and the poor are among the most vulnerable.
We pray for: Reconciliation, peace and protection of the vulnerable.
Spiritual landscape
About half of the people are Muslim, about 38% Christian, about 6% follow traditional faiths and about 5% have no religion, according to 2025 figures. Many Muslims and Christians also hold traditional beliefs. Christians come mainly from the Pepel, Manjaco and Balanta peoples and live mostly in Bissau and along the coast.
We pray for: Spiritual awakening, hope and the spread of truth.
Religious freedom
The constitution separates religion and state and protects freedom of conscience and worship. The US State Department reports that religious groups are mostly respectful of one another and hold interfaith events. In 2023 one local community suspended an evangelical church over concerns about ancestral practices, and some religious leaders warned of extremism spreading in the east.
We pray for: Protection for believers and freedom to worship safely.
Historical wounds
Portugal ruled the land for centuries, and thousands of captives were taken from the region each year in the slave trade. Independence came in 1973 to 1974 after an 11 year war led by the PAIGC, whose founder Amilcar Cabral was assassinated in 1973. A civil war in 1998 to 1999, the killing of President Vieira in 2009 and several coups have left deep cycles of instability.
We pray for: National healing, breaking old cycles and deep forgiveness.
Let us pray together
Our Father, we come to You together for Guinea-Bissau. Keep the people safe and calm in this uncertain time, and lead the nation on a peaceful path that all its people can trust. Give wisdom, integrity and justice to those in authority, and let every voice be heard fairly. Provide for families who depend on the cashew harvest, and protect the poor. Bring reconciliation between all peoples, and break the hold of drug trafficking and fear. Let the hope of Jesus be made known in every village and island. Keep the freedom to worship safe for all. Break the old cycles of coups and violence, and lead Guinea-Bissau in forgiveness and lasting peace. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Sources
- Forbes Africa Lusofona: transitional government admits elections may be postponed (Oct 2026)
- Africanews: Guinea-Bissau votes yes in referendum for new constitution (Sept 2026)
- RTP/Lusa: Simoes Pereira says no conditions for 6 December elections (Oct 2026)
- Wikipedia: Horta Inta-A Na Man
- IMF: staff-level agreement on eleventh ECF review (May 2026)
- US State Department: 2023 Report on International Religious Freedom, Guinea-Bissau
- Wikipedia: Guinea-Bissau (history, peoples, faith)
More ways to pray
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