Gunf!re In Guinea-Bissau Capital As Military Announces Total Takeover, Shuts Borders
Gunfire In Guinea-Bissau Capital As Military Announces Total Takeover, Shuts Borders
In a statement, the officers said they had ordered the “immediate suspension” of the electoral process, the closure of all land, air and sea borders, and an overnight curfew “until further notice”.
Military officers in Guinea-Bissau announced a takeover on Wednesday, throwing the country into fresh political uncertainty as they declared “total control” a day after both leading presidential candidates claimed victory in a tightly contested vote.
In a statement, the officers said they had ordered the “immediate suspension” of the electoral process, the closure of all land, air and sea borders, and an overnight curfew “until further notice”.
According to Al Jazeera, the announcement came shortly after sustained gunfire was reported near the election commission headquarters, the presidential palace and the interior ministry in Bissau.
Results from Sunday’s presidential election had been expected on Thursday. The poll featured incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and challenger Fernando Dias, each insisting they had won.
Reporting from neighbouring Senegal, Al Jazeera correspondent Nicolas Haque said Embaló’s whereabouts remained uncertain following the military’s declaration.
“The presidential palace is heavily guarded as we speak, surrounded by the presidential guard, and we have the military deployed,” Haque said. “What we know for sure is that the military is definitely in charge of the country today.”
Meanwhile, the BBC reported that Embaló had been arrested by armed men in the capital, Bissau, deepening fears of instability following last week’s contested presidential election.
His arrest came three days after the vote in which the main opposition candidate was disqualified.
Witnesses reported hearing gunfire at about 1 p.m. local time, although it remains unclear who was involved in the shooting or how the confrontation began.
Embaló confirmed to The Africa Report’s sister publication, Jeune Afrique, that he was arrested on Wednesday, November 26, at around 1pm while he was in his office at the presidential palace.
Also taken into custody were the Armed Forces Chief of Staff, General Biaguê Na Ntan; the Deputy Chief of Staff, General Mamadou Touré; and the Interior Minister, Botché Candé.
The outgoing president stated that no force was used against him during what he described as a “coup d’état,” which he said was orchestrated by the army chief of staff.
