THIS DAWN — There has been a military coup on Wednesday in the African country of Guinea Bissau, barely hours after the country’s presidential election which held weekend.
This medium learnt that President Umaro Sissoco Embalo was arrested by soldiers after claiming victory in the just concluded presidential election.
Guinea-Bissau was thrust into fresh political turmoil after President Embalo confirmed to FRANCE 24 that he had been deposed by military officers.
He spoke briefly as he warned his phone risked being confiscated.
Embalo said he was “currently at the general staff headquarters,” signalling that he was already in military custody.
His removal comes just three days after tightly contested presidential and legislative elections in which he was widely favoured to secure a second term.
Military sources told AFP that Embaló is being “well-treated” at the headquarters, where he is reportedly detained alongside the country’s chief of staff and interior minister.
The officers behind the takeover have suspended the electoral process entirely, effectively freezing the vote-counting stage at a moment when both leading candidates had prematurely claimed victory.
The abrupt intervention has heightened concerns over the country’s fragile democratic trajectory, already strained by recurrent political instability and factional military influence.
Images are circulated showing a heavy security presence in Bissau and crowds attempting to understand the fast-moving developments.
International reactions
In the meantime, international reactions have begun to emerge.
Portugal, Guinea-Bissau’s former colonial ruler, urged an immediate return to constitutional order.
The European power called on all actors to “refrain from any institutional or civic violence.”
Lisbon pressed for the restoration of institutional normalcy to enable completion of the vote count and official announcement of election results.
It also said it was monitoring the situation closely through its embassy in Bissau to ensure the safety of Portuguese citizens and residents.
Gunfire was reported earlier near the presidential palace, underscoring the volatility of the situation as the military announced it had taken “total control” of the country.
With state institutions now suspended, Guinea Bissau faces a deepening political crisis whose outcome remains uncertain.
