Guinea-Bissau's President Umaro Sissoco Embalo
Photo credit: Reuters
Military officers in Guinea-Bissau have taken control of the government, suspended the country’s electoral process and declared they will be in control “until further notice”.
On Monday, President Umaro Embaló, who is seeking to re-election, and Fernando Dias, his main opponent, both declared victory in the country’s election even though the electoral commission had not released official results.
As the country awaited official results, both sides claimed that their contenders exceeded the 50 percent threshold needed to win outright, eliminating the need for a run-off.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) noted that the buildup to the elections was marked by multiple security, political, and institutional issues.
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Just before the start of election campaigns, the Guinea-Bissau government said it successfully thwarted an alleged coup attempt.
Mamadu Ture, deputy chief of staff, accused Daba Nawalna, a brigadier-general and director of a military training centre, of being the mastermind of the alleged plot.
However, later on Wednesday, Embaló told Jeune Afrique that he was arrested at around 1pm in his office at the presidential palace.
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Biaguê Na Ntan, armed forces’ chief of staff; Botché Candé, interior minister; and Ture were also arrested.
The coup leaders issued a communique, claiming the “High Military Command for the Restoration of National Security and Public Order” was reacting to a destabilisation plot “put in place by certain national politicians with the participation of [a] well-known drug baron,” according to the Africa Report.
Embaló said the officers did not use force and called it a coup.
The country’s electoral commission is set to announce the results on Thursday.
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