Guinea-Bissau Military Announces Takeover After Reported Arrest Of President Embaló

A group of military officers in Guinea-Bissau has declared that they have taken control of the country following reports that President Umaro Sissoco Embaló was arrested after gunfire erupted in the capital, Bissau.

Government sources told the BBC that Embaló had been detained, and shortly afterward, uniformed officers appeared on state television announcing the suspension of the electoral process and stating they would govern “until further notice.”

Tension had been rising ahead of Sunday’s presidential election results, especially after the main opposition candidate was disqualified. Both Embaló and his closest challenger, Fernando Dias, had already claimed victory.

Witnesses reported hearing heavy gunfire around midday, prompting hundreds of residents to flee in fear. Later, General Denis N’Canha, head of the military household at the presidential palace, delivered a televised statement declaring the formation of “the High Military Command for the Restoration of Order”, the closure of national borders, and urging citizens to “remain calm.” 

Reports indicate that, along with Embaló, several ministers and senior military staff have also been detained. Guinea-Bissau, a nation of less than two million people, has long struggled with political instability, recording nine coups or attempted coups since 1980, including two attempts to unseat Embaló, the most recent in December 2023.