Coup in Guinea-Bissau as military officers declare ‘total control’ of country
Story by Okafor Vivian
Guinea-Bissau Military Seizes Power, Halts Elections and Shuts Borders After Gunfire in Capital
Military officers in Guinea-Bissau on Wednesday declared that they had taken “total control” of the country, announcing the suspension of the electoral process and the immediate closure of all borders just days after presidential and legislative polls were held.
Gunfire erupted earlier near the presidential palace as soldiers blocked access to the area. The officers, identifying themselves as the “High Military Command for the Restoration of Order,” read a statement on national television confirming the coup and imposing an overnight curfew across the nation.
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The coup announcement followed heavy shooting around key government buildings, including the electoral commission, interior ministry and presidential compound. Results from Sunday’s election — contested between incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embalo and challenger Fernando Dias — were expected on Thursday.
President Embalo later confirmed to France24 that he had been “deposed” and was being held at the military headquarters. Reports also indicate that main opposition leader Domingos Simoes Pereira has been arrested, while internet access is being restricted nationwide.
The coup is reportedly led by Denis N’Canha, former head of the presidential guard — the very man tasked with protecting Embalo.
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Election controversy
The legitimacy of the vote had been widely questioned after the main opposition party, PAIGC, was disqualified from the presidential race. Tensions surged as both Embalo and Dias separately claimed victory despite the absence of verified results.
Portugal has urged all sides to avoid violence and allow state institutions to complete the electoral process, recalling that Guinea-Bissau’s 2019 election also triggered months of political dispute.
Guinea-Bissau, which gained independence from Portugal in 1974, has a long history of coups and attempted coups — and Wednesday’s takeover adds yet another chapter to its turbulent political landscape
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