BISSAU — Guinea-Bissau plunged into yet another political crisis on Wednesday after a group of army officers announced on state television that they had overthrown President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, halted the electoral process, and taken full control of the country.
According to Reuters, the officers said they had suspended the ongoing vote count from Sunday’s fiercely contested presidential election, closed the nation’s borders, imposed a curfew, and established a ruling military body called the “High Military Command for the Restoration of Order.” The junta said it would administer the West African state until further notice.
Moments before the broadcast, heavy gunfire echoed around key government installations — including the electoral commission, the presidential palace, and the interior ministry — witnesses told Reuters. The shooting lasted roughly an hour before subsiding early Wednesday afternoon. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
The coup comes on the eve of the scheduled release of provisional election results. Embaló had been locked in a tight race with main challenger Fernando Dias, with both camps claiming early victory. Embaló was seeking to become the first leader in 30 years to secure a second consecutive term in the coup-prone nation.
According to France 24, Embaló confirmed his ouster.
“I have been deposed,” he said, adding that he could not provide further details for fear security forces would seize his phone. He said he was currently being held at the military general staff headquarters.
Guinea-Bissau, a former Portuguese colony that gained independence in 1974 after the Carnation Revolution, has a long history of political instability marked by coups and attempted coups.
In Lisbon, Portugal urged its former colony to immediately restore constitutional order. The government called for the resumption of the vote-counting process, appealed for calm, and urged all actors to avoid violence.
Portugal added that it is in continuous contact with its embassy in Bissau to monitor the safety of Portuguese nationals and the general population.
Support Independent Journalism
Your support helps FrontPage Africa continue delivering independent, credible, and impactful journalism. Every contribution strengthens our ability to investigate, inform, and hold power accountable while keeping quality journalism accessible to our readers.
Support our journalism or subscribe to receive the latest FrontPage Africa stories and updates.
