A group of military officers in Guinea-Bissau has announced the seizure of power just before the expected announcement of results from a contentious presidential election. In a statement broadcast on state television, the officers declared that they had deposed President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, suspended the electoral process, closed borders, and imposed a curfew. They stated that they had established “The High Military Command for the Restoration of Order” and would govern the country until further notice.
According to Dinis N’Tchama, the spokesperson for the military high command, the coup was initiated in response to “the discovery of an ongoing plan” aimed at destabilizing Guinea-Bissau. He claimed that both “domestic and foreign citizens” were involved in attempts to “manipulate electoral results to implement this plan.”
Gunfire erupted shortly before the military’s announcement near key government locations, including the electoral commission headquarters, the presidential palace, and the interior ministry. Witnesses reported that the shooting lasted for about an hour, although there have been no confirmed reports of casualties.
The electoral commission was set to announce provisional results from the presidential election held on March 10, 2024, where President Embalo faced his main challenger, Fernando Dias. Both candidates had previously claimed victory in the first round of voting. Embalo was aiming to become the first president in three decades to secure a second consecutive term in this small coastal nation situated between Senegal and Guinea.
As of now, Embalo has not made any public statements regarding the coup. His spokesperson, Antonio Yaya Seidy, alleged that unidentified gunmen attacked the electoral commission to prevent the release of the vote results. Seidy specifically implicated members associated with Dias, although no evidence was provided to substantiate this claim. A representative for Dias did not respond to requests for comment.
Former Prime Minister Domingos Simoes Pereira, who lost to Embalo in a contentious runoff in 2019 and has supported Dias in the current election, denied any connection between Dias and the violent incident. Pereira stated that Dias was with election observers at the time and was unharmed, confirming that “some people erupted in the room to announce that there were gunshots in the center of the town.”
Guinea-Bissau has a tumultuous history, having experienced at least nine coups and attempted coups since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974. Since taking office in 2020, Embalo has claimed to have survived three coup attempts. Critics argue that he has created crises as a pretext for government crackdowns.
The current situation in Guinea-Bissau remains fluid, and the international community is watching closely as developments unfold.
