By Obinna Uballa
Guinea-Bissau has plunged into fresh political chaos after a group of military officers announced they had seized control of the country and detained President Umaro Sissoco Embaló.
Government sources confirmed to the BBC on Wednesday that Embaló was arrested shortly after heavy gunfire erupted in the capital, Bissau. The shooting, heard around 13:00 GMT, sent residents fleeing on foot and in vehicles as security forces clashed in what appeared to be a coordinated power grab.
The sudden unrest comes just three days after a controversial presidential election in which the main opposition candidate was disqualified. The results—initially expected on Thursday—have been disputed, with both Embaló and leading challenger Fernando Dias claiming victory.
As confusion spread across Bissau, military officers later appeared on state television to declare the formation of the High Military Command for the Restoration of Order. They announced that the armed forces had taken control of the government and would oversee the country “until further notice.”
The officers urged citizens to remain calm while asserting their authority over the West African nation.
Guinea-Bissau, a former Portuguese colony of fewer than two million people, has a long and troubled history of instability. Since 1980, it has experienced nine coups or attempted coups. President Embaló himself has survived two attempts to overthrow him, the most recent occurring in December 2023.
The latest seizure of power adds yet another chapter to the country’s decades-long struggle to establish lasting political stability.
