Gambiaj.com – (BISSAU, Guinea-Bissau) – Guinea-Bissau entered a full-blown political crisis on Wednesday, with mounting evidence of a military takeover after President Umaro Sissoco Embaló said he had been arrested and security forces announced the suspension of the electoral process, three days after the November 23 general elections.
The situation in Bissau, already tense after bursts of gunfire near key government institutions, escalated sharply as the capital fell under military control. Streets that are normally packed were deserted, closed off by heavily armed defense and security forces.
Armored ECOWAS vehicles were seen near the Ceiba Hotel, where international election observers are staying, while the Presidential Guard blocked access around Benfica headquarters, conducting searches and directing journalists on restricted movement routes.
Direct access to several central areas, including the Império zone and Avenida Amílcar Cabral, was sealed off, forcing detours through government districts.
Gunfire near the National Election Commission (CNE), the Ministry of the Interior and Public Order, and the Presidential Palace triggered the closure of major markets, including Bandim and Praça.
Military Shuts Down Media, Borders, and Elections
Multiple radio stations were ordered off air by the Armed Forces’ General Staff. According to The Gambia Journal reliable sources, only Radio Nacional remains broadcasting.
The military later declared “total control of the country,” announced the “suspension of the electoral process,” and reportedly closed national borders, AFP reported. Elite troops established a perimeter around the palace as shooting stopped in the early afternoon.
There are also reports, cited by RIA, that armed men have taken control of the National Election Commission building.
President Says He Was Arrested
Speaking to Jeune Afrique, President Umaro Sissoco Embaló said he heard gunfire near the Presidential Palace and the CNE headquarters before being detained around noon. He told the outlet he was taken to the São José de Amura Military Fortress “without violence,” an account also reported by RFI.
RFI further reported that opposition candidate Fernando Dias da Costa, who has declared himself the winner of the election, and former Prime Minister Domingos Simões Pereira were also detained and transported to an air base. However, there has been no official military statement confirming their status.
According to Embaló, the alleged coup is being led by the Army Chief of Staff. But sources linked to the political opposition told The Gambia Journal that the gunfire was “fake” and that the President himself orchestrated the maneuver to halt the vote count.
“How do you explain that the person who claimed to be overthrown and detained by the military is the same one calling the media to tell them that he has been detained? Something is not right here and Embalò is trying to outsmart everyone,” our source explained.
The official results were scheduled for release on Thursday. Both Embaló and Dias have claimed victory.
Confusion and Contradiction
The Russian embassy told RIA it is receiving “contradictory information” about Embaló’s situation, saying there is currently “no clarity.” The information blackout has intensified after most radio stations were forced off air.
Susy Barbosa, former foreign minister and a close associate of Embaló, told DW she believed the President had been taken to the General Staff headquarters.
She added that there were indications the Interior Minister may also have been arrested, though this remains unconfirmed. Asked whether the unfolding events amounted to a coup d’état, Barbosa responded, “Everything indicates that it was; we are waiting.”
Dias Calls for Calm, Distances Himself From Coup
Fernando Dias da Costa, speaking earlier at his campaign headquarters before reports of his alleged detention, urged the military to “step aside” and allow the CNE to complete its work. In a video later published by Bissau On-line, Dias again appealed for calm, asking the population to “remain peaceful,” insisting he had won the elections, and warning that “whoever tries to create problems” would face “consequences.”
Dias had also met with international observers Wednesday morning, declaring that “everything is clear” and urging supporters to wait for the CNE’s announcement.
Coup in All But Name
With electoral procedures halted, borders reportedly closed, radio stations silenced, heavily armed troops deployed across the capital, and the President claiming arrest, Guinea-Bissau now appears to be facing an outright military takeover.
The full whereabouts and status of top political figures remain uncertain. Regional and international observers are bracing for further escalation as the country awaits clarity on who is in control and what comes next.
