The military announced that it had taken “total control” of the country, three days after the presidential elections in which both Umaro Sissoco Embaló and opponent Fernando Dias claimed victory.
Guinea-Bissau army officers announced, in a statement broadcast on state television, that the president has been deposed and all state institutions are suspended until further notice. Borders were also closed and a curfew declared.
Furthermore, the electoral process was suspended indefinitely.
Guinea-Bissau’s military announced that it had taken “total control” of the country, three days after the presidential elections in which both Umaro Sissoco Embaló and opponent Fernando Dias claimed victory. The information was provided by .
The president of Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embaló, previously said he had been the target of a coup d’état and confirmed, in , that he was detained by the military this Wednesday, around 12:00, in his office at the presidential palace, in Bissau.
According to him, the chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Biague Na Ntan, the deputy chief of the General Staff, Mamadou Touré, and the Minister of the Interior, Botché Candé, were also arrested. Embaló guarantees that he was not the target of physical violence at the time of his arrest and points responsibility to the Army Chief of Staff.
Lusa, which cites witnesses on the ground, says that small arms and war shots have been heard in the center of the city of Bissau, the country’s capital, since 12:40.
The crisis occurs three days after the presidential election. Embaló already claimed a significant victory, with 65% of the votes, based on polls. However, his main opponent, Fernando Dias da Costa, also claimed victory. The election results were due to be released this Thursday.
