NAIROBI, Kenya— Guinea-Bissau has been thrust into fresh political turmoil after a group of military officers announced they had seized control of the country, claiming to have arrested President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and several top government officials.
Gunfire in Bissau as Military Declares Takeover
Tension erupted in the capital, Bissau, on Wednesday afternoon when residents reported heavy gunfire at about 13:00 GMT.
Witnesses said people fled the streets—some on foot, others in cars—as shots rang out across the city. It remained unclear who was behind the initial shooting or whether there were casualties.
Hours later, government sources confirmed to the BBC that President Embaló had been detained.
Military officers soon appeared on state television announcing that they were assuming control and suspending the country’s electoral process.
General Denis N’Canha, head of the military household at the presidential palace, read a statement declaring the formation of a new ruling body: “The High Military Command for the Restoration of Order.”
He also ordered the closure of the country’s borders and urged citizens to remain calm.
Election Tensions, Arrests, and a Suspended Process
The takeover comes just days after Guinea-Bissau held a highly contentious presidential election on Sunday.
The political atmosphere had already been inflamed after the main opposition candidate was barred from running—a decision that critics said tilted the playing field.
Although official results were due Thursday, both Embaló and his rival Fernando Dias had already declared victory, setting the stage for a political showdown.
According to multiple reports, along with Embaló, several senior officials—including the president’s army staff and unnamed cabinet ministers—have been arrested.
Guinea-Bissau—home to just under two million people and one of the world’s poorest nations—has lived through nine coups or attempted coups since 1980.
As a former Portuguese colony, its political history has been turbulent, shaped by military influence and persistent institutional fragility.
Embaló, elected in 2019, has repeatedly claimed that he survived multiple attempts to topple his government.
Critics, however, have accused him of exaggerating threats to justify crackdowns on political opponents and consolidate power.
The military has offered no clear roadmap for transition, nor have they indicated how long they intend to remain in charge.
Regional and international bodies—including ECOWAS and the African Union—are expected to respond in the coming hours, potentially shaping the country’s next steps.
For now, Guinea-Bissau remains in a state of uncertainty, with borders sealed, political leaders detained, and the fate of an already disputed election now entirely in the military’s hands.
