Guinea-Bissau was plunged into fresh political turmoil on Wednesday (November 26th) when a group of army officers appeared on state television to announce they had seized power, suspended the electoral process and ousted President Umar Sissoc Embaló – just a day before preliminary presidential election results.
Gunfire rang out for nearly an hour around key government sites in the capital, including the presidential palace, the electoral commission and the interior ministry, sparking panic as people fled the streets. A few hours later, President Embaló told France 24: “I was deposed.
Army announces takeover, suspends institutions
Reading a statement on state television, spokesman Diniz N’Tchama said the group – calling itself the High Military Command for the Restoration of Order – had taken “total control” of the West African nation. The police ordered the closure of all borders, the suspension of media activities and the halting of the election process.
“The military high command… has decided to immediately depose the president of the republic and suspend, until further orders, all institutions of the republic,” N’Tchama said.
He claimed the move was driven by the discovery of a plan by “certain national politicians” and “known national and foreign drug barons” to manipulate election results and destabilize the country.
The president’s whereabouts are unclear; An AFP source said he was detained
A military source told AFP that Embaló had been arrested and was being “well treated” at the headquarters of the General Staff, although the military had not publicly confirmed this. It remains unclear whether all branches of Guinea-Bissau’s disunited army support the takeover.
The election dispute is fueling tensions
The coup attempt came just days after Sunday’s presidential and parliamentary elections – and before the electoral commission was due to release preliminary results on Thursday.
Both Embaló and main opposition challenger Fernando Dias da Costa have already claimed victory, raising fears of a contested result. Spokesman Embaló accused Dias-linked gunmen of attacking the electoral commission to block the announcement of the results, but provided no evidence. Dias’s camp denied any involvement.
A country with a long history of coups
Guinea-Bissau, a nation of two million, has seen repeated military upheavals — at least nine coups or attempts since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974. Embaló himself said he survived three coups during his tenure.
Dispute over the presidential term
Embaló’s mandate was also the subject of controversy. While the constitution stipulates a five-year term, the opposition says his term should have ended in February. The Supreme Court instead ruled that it would last until September 4, and the election was eventually postponed until November.
