The Guinea-Bissau military has announced it has taken full control of the country, suspended the electoral process, and closed all borders, three days after disputed presidential elections in which President Umaro Sissoco Embaló was declared the winner.
Chief of the Military House of the President of Guinea-Bissau Brigadier General Denis N’Canha, on Wednesday, November 26, delivered the announcement during a press conference at the General Staff of the Armed Forces in Bissau, declaring that the armed forces were now in charge of all state institutions.
The military chief said that they had seized power and deposed President Embalo in the aftermath of the first round of general elections on Sunday, adding that they had formed “The High Military Command for the Restoration of Order” and that they would remain in charge until further notice.
The officers said they had suspended the electoral process, claiming it was necessary to clarify the situation before returning to constitutional order. In addition, the Guinea-Bissau military has announced the temporary closure of the country’s borders and airspace and imposed a curfew.
The crisis intensified as gunfire erupted near the presidential palace and the electoral commission, with Reuters reporting a heavy military presence around both sites. The unrest followed what appears to be a coordinated move by sections of the armed forces to overturn the post-election process.
Earlier, President Umaro Sissoco Embaló was arrested by armed men during what he described as a takeover orchestrated by the army’s Chief of General Staff. Speaking to Jeune Afrique, Embaló said he was detained in his office but was not subjected to violence. According to AFP, the military also reiterated that it has assumed “full control” of the country alongside the border closures and election suspension.
Sunday’s presidential and parliamentary elections were already fraught with tension, as both Embaló and his challenger, Fernando Dias, claimed victory and were poised to move to a second round. Embaló’s spokesperson, António Yaya Seidi, reported that armed men attacked the electoral commission to block the announcement of official results.
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