The president of Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embaló.
“All borders closed.” Umaro Sissoco Embaló deposed, was arrested and shots were heard in Bissau. Three days after the elections and just hours before the results are known, two candidates for the country’s presidency claim victory. Opposition denies coup d’état.
The President of Guinea-Bissau says he was the target of a coup d’état and was arrested by the military this Wednesday, around midday, when people began to hear shots of small arms and war in the center of the capital Bissau, including at the door of the presidential palace.
The origin of the shooting is still unknown, but military personnel cited by and on RFI radio they demand “total control” of the country “until further notice”. Military officials announced the deposition of the president and the suspension of state institutions.
CHAOS BEGAN IN GUINEA-BISSAU
Shooting with light weapons and weapons of war in the center of Bissau.
Guinea-Bissau awaits the official results of the general elections — presidential and legislative — held on Sunday. However, a few hours ago, a group of soldiers entered the…— César Chiyaya (@cesarchiyaya)
Umaro Sissoco Embaló told the newspaper that the Chief of 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 detained. Information that has yet to be verified by independent sources.
The president guarantees, however, that he was not the target of physical violence and points the finger at the Army Chief of Staff, who he accuses of orchestrating the alleged coup d’état.
Authorities have not yet provided any explanation for the events.. Despite everything, the opposition guarantees that there was no coup d’état, and that the president is just trying to suspend the vote counting process.
Two candidates declare victory in the presidential elections
Guinea-Bissau awaits the official results of the general, presidential and legislative elections, held just three days ago, on Sunday.
The opposition candidate for the presidency of the Republic, Fernando Dias da Costaclaimed victory on Monday and said he had defeated President Sissoco Embaló in the first round. But Embaló also claimed a victory, a very significant one, with 65% of the votes, based on polls.
Domingos Simões Pereiraconsidered Embaló’s main opponent, did not participate in the elections. PAIGC, the party that Domingos leads, declared support for Fernando Dias da Costa.
Domingos Pereira has already said that he was at a meeting when he heard about the shots that began to be heard in Bissau. According to the same party leader, military personnel tried to enter the CNE facilities “to force its president to read the results with Umaro Sissoco Embaló as the winner”. Riot police will be on site. Bodjan Cande, head of the police, head of presidential security and son of the country’s Interior Minister, is named as the leader of the alleged “false coup”.
A reports that the process of official vote counts in Sunday’s legislative and presidential elections is taking place under strong suspicion of the population.
