BREAKING: Military Seizes Control in Guinea-Bissau Amid Election Fallout, President Embaló Detained

By Tgnews Reporter

In a stunning escalation of political tensions, Guinea-Bissau’s military has reportedly taken over key government institutions, detaining President Umaro Sissoco Embaló in what he described as a “coup d’état.”

The development, unfolding just three days after highly contested presidential and legislative elections, has plunged the West African nation into uncertainty as gunfire echoes through the capital and official results remain pending.

Eyewitnesses reported bursts of gunfire near the presidential palace in Bissau around 1:00 p.m. local time (GMT), sending hundreds fleeing on foot and by vehicle.

Videos circulating on social media captured chaotic scenes of residents seeking shelter, with streets emptying rapidly amid the sounds of shots.

The incident occurred as the country awaited provisional election results due Thursday, following Sunday’s polls marred by the disqualification of the main opposition party and competing victory claims from the top candidates.

President Embaló, who has led the Portuguese-speaking nation since 2019, contacted Jeune Afrique magazine directly from his office in the presidential palace to confirm his arrest.

“I was detained at around 1:00 p.m. while in my office,” he told the publication, emphasizing that “no force was used against me.” He attributed the action to a faction within the military, led by Chief of Army Staff General Biaguê Na Ntan.

According to reports, the armed forces’ chief of staff, deputy chief of staff General Mamadou Touré, and Interior Minister Botché Candé were also taken into custody during the operation.

The military’s involvement signals a profound rift between the presidency and the armed forces, which have historically wielded significant influence in Guinea-Bissau’s fragile politics.

This is not the first such threat under Embaló’s tenure; a foiled coup attempt in late October targeted senior officers accused of plotting to disrupt the elections, though today’s events appear to stem from a different faction.

The backdrop is Sunday’s elections, which saw incumbent Embaló facing off against opposition challenger Fernando Dias da Costa of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC).

Both candidates prematurely declared victory, with Embaló claiming 65% of the vote based on preliminary tallies from his camp. The PAIGC, which spearheaded the country’s independence struggle from Portugal in the 1970s, decried the process as rigged, particularly after their disqualification from legislative races fueled widespread protests.

Soldiers were later reported storming the National Electoral Commission’s headquarters, further stoking fears of manipulated results.

Reports from AFP indicate the military has declared “full control” over the country, though no official statement has confirmed casualties or the extent of the operation.

Regional and international reactions are swift but cautious. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has yet to issue a formal response, but sources suggest emergency consultations are underway. The United Nations and European Union, which funded election monitoring, expressed concern over the pre-vote disqualifications and now call for restraint to protect the vote’s integrity.

As night falls in Bissau, the situation remains fluid. Embaló’s detention raises immediate questions about succession and the election’s fate, with opposition figures like Dias decrying the move as a military power grab.

This is a developing story. Updates will follow as more information emerges.