Guinea-Bissau has plunged into fresh uncertainty after the military announced a takeover in a televised broadcast, declaring the removal of President Umaro Sissoco Embaló. The Armed Forces High Command suspended all government activities, shut land and air borders, and imposed a strict 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. curfew. The whereabouts of Embaló remain unknown amid rising tension in the capital.
The crisis began when gunshots were reported near the electoral commission, where officials were compiling results ahead of Thursday’s announcement of provisional election outcomes. Security forces have since arrested several ministers and senior military officers loyal to the deposed president, deepening fears of broader instability.
Army Chief Dinis N’Canha, who announced the power seizure, declared the electoral process canceled until further notice. The abrupt move has raised alarm across the region, given Guinea-Bissau’s long history of coups and political volatility.
As the situation evolves, regional observers are monitoring developments closely while residents brace for further disruptions under the newly imposed military order.
