Gambiaj.com – (BISSAU, Guinea-Bissau) – A self-proclaimed military coalition in Guinea-Bissau announced on Wednesday that it has taken control of the country, marking a dramatic escalation just days after national elections and amid reports of gunfire around the presidential palace.
Calling themselves the “High Military Command for the Restoration of Order,” the group declared that it had assumed authority “until further notice,” suspended the ongoing electoral process, annulled the results of Sunday’s presidential and legislative elections, shut down media programming, and ordered the closure of all borders.
The declaration was delivered at the headquarters of the armed forces by General Denis N’Canha, a senior military figure and head of the presidential military household. The statement urged citizens to remain calm, insisting the takeover was necessary to restore stability.
How the Military Move Unfolded
Tensions exploded around midday when heavy gunfire was reported near the presidential palace and the National Elections Commission. Shortly afterward, multiple security units, including members of the Presidential Guard, deployed across key routes in Bissau, effectively tightening control around the seat of power.
Within hours, the officers issued their statement claiming authority, effectively freezing the electoral process just one day before the official announcement of results.
Both incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and rival candidate Fernando Dias da Costa had already claimed victory, deepening political uncertainty.
According to information shared with Jeune Afrique, President Embaló said he was arrested inside his office around midday along with Interior Minister Botché Candé and two top military figures, Armed Forces Chief General Biaguê Na Ntan and his deputy, General Mamadou Touré. Embaló reportedly accused the army chief of staff of orchestrating the coup while claiming he had not been harmed.
However, by late afternoon, Embaló’s whereabouts were unclear. Security sources suggested he was no longer in custody, and he has not appeared publicly.
Authorities confirmed the arrest of opposition figures Domingos Simões Pereira and Fernando Dias da Costa, who are reportedly being held at the Bissau airbase.
Calm Streets, Uncertain Future
Despite the morning gunfire, the capital was described as relatively calm by early evening, though military personnel maintained tight control over strategic access points. All media programming was suspended, and communications from state institutions went silent.
The takeover revives fears of renewed instability in a country long plagued by political crises. Guinea-Bissau’s 2019 presidential election also resulted in months of dispute, with both Embaló and Pereira claiming victory before power was eventually consolidated.
With borders shut, election results annulled, and the president unaccounted for, the military now stands as the sole authority, setting the stage for what appears to be a full-scale power grab.
There has been no indication of when civilian rule might resume, and the officers offered no roadmap beyond their call for calm.
Regional and international reactions are expected in the coming hours as Guinea-Bissau faces yet another turning point in its volatile political history.
