Dakar, Nov 26, (dpa/GNA) – The military in Guinea-Bissau said on Wednesday, it has seized power in the West African coastal state.
The country’s president has been deposed, and all institutions have been temporarily closed, according a statement by a group of officers, that was broadcast on the Facebook channel of the state television station TGB on Wednesday.
The takeover became necessary after the high command, uncovered a plan to rig the elections and destabilize the country, said the group’s spokesman, General Denis N’Canha.
Politicians and a well-known drug lord were involved in the plan, he said. “The high command of the armed forces, in order to restore national security and public order, has decided to immediately remove the president of the republic from office,” he added.
The officers also imposed a night-time curfew.
President Umaro Sissoco EmbalĂł had earlier told the French magazine Jeune Afrique that he, the interior minister and the chiefs of staff of the armed forces had been arrested at the presidential palace. However, he said that no violence had been used against him.
Gunshots were heard in the capital Bissau.
Long-overdue presidential and parliamentary elections had taken place on Sunday. Both EmbalĂł and his leading challenger, Fernando Dias, both declared themselves the winners.
The results of the peaceful vote were to be published by Thursday.
Former general EmbalĂł, 53, has been in power since 2020 and dissolved parliament at the end of 2023. His term of office expired months ago.
The main opposition party was excluded from the election, and supported the independent candidate Dias.
Guinea-Bissau, a former Portuguese colony, has experienced several coups and coup attempts since its independence in 1974.
GNA