Gunfire was reported near the presidential palace and the offices of the electoral commission in the capital, Bissau, as tensions escalated following the first round of general elections held over the weekend. Both President Embalo and opposition candidate Fernando Dias had claimed victory, even as the official results were yet to be announced.
In an interview with French outlet Jeune Afrique, Embalo confirmed he was arrested around noon along with his Interior Minister Botche Cande, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Gen. Biague Na Ntan, and his deputy Gen. Mamadou Toure. He described the event as a 'coup' led by the commander of the land forces, adding that no violence was used against him.
Following the arrests, a group of army officers addressed the nation on state television, announcing the formation of 'The High Military Command for the Restoration of Order.' The officers said they would remain in charge of the West African nation until further notice, citing the need to clarify the situation before returning to constitutional order.
Troops from the presidential guard and an elite gendarmerie unit established checkpoints in Bissau, while borders and airspace were temporarily closed. General Denis N'Canha, head of the presidential military office, urged citizens to 'remain calm,' emphasising that the command was composed of all branches of the armed forces.
Fernando Dias, meanwhile, called on the military to remain neutral and allow the electoral process to continue. 'We are not asking for anything,' he told reporters, stating he would wait for the official results, which were expected on Thursday.
Guinea-Bissau, a former Portuguese colony with a population of about 2.2 million, has a long history of political instability. Since independence in 1974, the country has witnessed at least four successful coups and numerous attempted ones.
President Embalo, a former army chief, took office in 2020 after winning the 2019 presidential election, becoming the first president elected without the backing of the dominant PAIGC party.
The country had largely peaceful elections on Sunday, with approximately 65% voter turnout, but the political contest was marred by disputes and the barring of some opposition figures. Several senior military officers were arrested in late October over an alleged coup plot.
With this latest upheaval, Guinea-Bissau joins other West African nations, including Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali, currently under military rule.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
