Guinea‑Bissau’s military installed General Horta Nta Na Man as transitional president a day after toppling President Umaro Sissoco Embalo and halting the vote count in the country’s general election. The opposition candidate, Fernando Dias, alleges that Embalo and the army conspired to thwart his victory. The army’s takeover came just before the release of the first‑round results, which were expected to show Dias in the lead.
The military claims that “drug traffickers” and foreign elements were involved in a plot to destabilise the country and manipulate the vote, while Dias says the coup was “fabricated” to keep him from power. In the capital, Bissau, the streets were calm on Thursday, with many people staying home after an overnight curfew was lifted. Businesses and banks remained shut, leaving the city quiet.
Embalo, who was ousted in the coup, has arrived in Senegal, according to that country’s foreign ministry. The African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have condemned the coup, calling for the immediate release of Embalo and all detained officials. The international community is monitoring the situation closely; UN Secretary‑General António Guterres has expressed concern.
Guinea‑Bissau has a history of coups and attempted coups since its independence from Portugal in 1974. The latest developments have raised worries about regional stability and the impact on the country’s fragile democracy. The opposition coalition backing Dias has demanded that the election results be released as planned and that all detained officials be freed.
The situation remains uncertain, with the international community urging restraint and a return to constitutional order. The fate of the election and the future of Guinea‑Bissau’s government hang in the balance as the country struggles to maintain stability and democracy amid military intervention.
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