Military seizes power in Guinea-Bissau, suspends presidential election

Guinea-Bissau’s military announced Wednesday that it had removed President Umaro Sissoco Embaló from office, assumed full control of the country, and suspended the presidential election, whose preliminary results were scheduled for Thursday, according to Agence France-Presse.

In a statement delivered at army headquarters in the capital, the military said it would manage state affairs “until further notice,” including halting the ongoing vote. The military also closed the country’s airspace and all border crossings.

Earlier in the day, residents and journalists reported heavy gunfire near the presidential palace and the National Electoral Commission, prompting civilians to flee the area for safety.

The election, held on Sunday, pitted incumbent Embaló against main challenger Fernando Dias. Both candidates had already claimed victory before the release of official results, heightening tensions.

Antonio Yaya Sidy, a spokesperson for President Embaló, accused armed assailants, allegedly supporters of Dias, of attacking the electoral commission to prevent the announcement of the vote. The Dias campaign had not commented on the accusations.

Guinea-Bissau, a small West African nation located between Senegal and Guinea, has a long history of political instability. Since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974, it has experienced at least nine coup attempts, including several in the years before Embaló became president in 2020.

The military takeover underscores the fragility of Guinea-Bissau’s political system and raises concerns about the country’s immediate prospects for stability.