Guinea-Bissau Military Seizes Power After Ousting President Embaló, Closes All Borders

The Guinea-Bissau military has announced it has taken full control of the country, suspended the electoral process, and closed all borders, three days after disputed presidential elections which President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and his main challenger have both claimed victory.

Chief of the Military House of the President of Guinea-Bissau, Brigadier General Denis N’Canha, announced on Wednesday, November 26, during a press conference at the General Staff of the Armed Forces in Bissau, that the armed forces had taken control of all state institutions.

He stated that the military had deposed President Embaló following Sunday’s first round of general elections and established “The High Military Command for the Restoration of National Security and Public Order”, which will govern the country until further notice.

According to N’Canha, the High Military Command assumed power after uncovering an alleged destabilisation plot involving local political actors, foreign nationals, and attempts to manipulate election results.

Guinea-Bissau military says President deposed after vote

The command ordered the removal of the president, the closure of state institutions, the suspension of media activity, and the halt of the electoral process until constitutional order can be restored.

The officers also announced the temporary closure of borders and airspace and imposed a curfew, stating these measures were necessary while the situation is being clarified.

“Thus, until the whole situation is conveniently clarified and the conditions for full return to constitutional normality are met, the High Military Command for the Restoration of National Security and Public Order decides to immediately depose the President of the Republic and to close, until further notice, all the institutions of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau,” said N’Canha.

“To close the terrestrial, maritime, airspace, national borders. To establish a mandatory curfew from nine o’clock until six o’clock, until the opposite orders. To have the necessary conditions to restore the constitutional normality of the state of the Guineans.”

The military further called for the “calm, collaboration of the Guineans and the understanding of all in the face of this serious situation imposed by a national emergency”, without specifying the duration of this transition.

The unrest followed what appears to be a coordinated move by sections of the armed forces to overturn the post-election process.

Earlier, the crisis intensified as gunfire erupted near the presidential palace and the electoral commission, with Reuters reporting a heavy military presence around both sites. 

Gunshots as President Embaló is arrested

President Umaro Sissoco Embaló was arrested by armed men during what he described as a takeover orchestrated by the army’s Chief of General Staff.

Speaking to Jeune Afrique, Embaló said he was detained in his office but was not subjected to violence. According to AFP, the military also reiterated that it has assumed “full control” of the country alongside the border closures and election suspension.

Sunday’s presidential and parliamentary elections were already fraught with tension, as both the Head of State and his challenger, opposition candidate Fernando Dias da Costa, claimed victory and were poised to move to a second round. Embaló’s spokesperson, António Yaya Seidi, reported that armed men attacked the electoral commission to block the announcement of official results.

Official results from the election, which had been largely peaceful, were scheduled for publication on Thursday.  But incumbent President Embaló and Fernando Dias on Tuesday both claimed victory.

This comes despite the country having a two-round electoral system, with a runoff vote probably the most likely scenario if none of the multiple candidates can win more than 50% of the vote. 

Guinea-Bissau has seen four successful coups and numerous attempted ones since independence in 1974, including one the government reported last month amid the election campaign.