BISSAU — Guinea-Bissau plunged into yet one more political disaster on Wednesday after a gaggle of military officers introduced on state tv that they’d overthrown President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, halted the electoral course of, and brought full management of the nation.
In accordance with Reuters, the officers mentioned they’d suspended the continuing vote rely from Sunday’s fiercely contested presidential election, closed the nation’s borders, imposed a curfew, and established a ruling army physique known as the “Excessive Army Command for the Restoration of Order.” The junta mentioned it might administer the West African state till additional discover.
Moments earlier than the printed, heavy gunfire echoed round key authorities installations — together with the electoral fee, the presidential palace, and the inside ministry — witnesses advised Reuters. The capturing lasted roughly an hour earlier than subsiding early Wednesday afternoon. There have been no quick stories of casualties.
The coup comes on the eve of the scheduled launch of provisional election outcomes. Embaló had been locked in a decent race with important challenger Fernando Dias, with each camps claiming early victory. Embaló was in search of to turn out to be the primary chief in 30 years to safe a second consecutive time period within the coup-prone nation.
In accordance with France 24, Embaló confirmed his ouster.
“I’ve been deposed,” he mentioned, including that he couldn’t present additional particulars for concern safety forces would seize his cellphone. He mentioned he was at the moment being held on the army common workers headquarters.
Guinea-Bissau, a former Portuguese colony that gained independence in 1974 after the Carnation Revolution, has an extended historical past of political instability marked by coups and tried coups.
In Lisbon, Portugal urged its former colony to instantly restore constitutional order. The federal government known as for the resumption of the vote-counting course of, appealed for calm, and urged all actors to keep away from violence.
Portugal added that it’s in steady contact with its embassy in Bissau to watch the protection of Portuguese nationals and the overall inhabitants.
