In Guinea Bissau, politics and drugs are a potent mix

Guineans

Guineans demonstrate against the attempted coup on Monday. PHOTO | COURTESY 

When President Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea Bissau survived a coup attempt this week, there were sighs of relief all round.

West Africa has recently seen coups in Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso — two in the same year — and all said countries are currently under military juntas that argue that civilian-led governments had failed to secure the countries from insurgents.