The Guinea-Bissau army has taken over the country in a coup, as outgoing President Umaro Sissoco Embaló reported his arrest at the presidential palace.
President Embaló stated that he was arrested around noon on Wednesday in his office at the presidential palace by military personnel, alongside the Chief of General Staff, his deputy, and the Minister of the Interior.
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In the afternoon, the military announced that it had assumed full control of Guinea-Bissau and suspended the electoral process.
In a statement read by army spokesperson Dinis N’Tchama, the military said the move followed the discovery of a destabilisation plan involving certain national politicians, drug lords, and attempts to manipulate the election results. A cache of military-grade weapons was reportedly seized by the State Information Service.
The High Military Command for the Restoration of National Security and Public Order also ordered the closure of state institutions, suspension of media operations, closure of land, sea, and air borders, and the imposition of a curfew from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
Meanwhile, Fernando Dias da Costa, the candidate backed by the main opposition party PAIGC and claiming victory in the first round of the 23 November presidential election, called on the military to stay out of the electoral process.
In a video shared on social media, he urged the public to remain calm while reiterating his victory.
Heavy gunfire was reported around midday near the presidential palace and the electoral commission offices. The official provisional results, initially scheduled for release on Thursday, are now on hold.