Guinea-Bissau military takes control, arrests president
The officers appeared on state television, announcing the suspension of the electoral process just days after the presidential election, and imposing a night-time curfew and border closures.
They claimed the takeover was necessary to prevent a destabilization plot involving unnamed politicians allegedly supported by a “well-known drug baron.”
In addition to Embaló, sources reported that opposition candidate Fernando Dias, former Prime Minister Domingos Pereira, and Interior Minister Botché Candé had also been detained.
Senior military leaders, including army chief Gen. Biague Na Ntan and his deputy Gen. Mamadou Touré, were reportedly taken into custody as well.
The country, sandwiched between Senegal and Guinea, has a long history of coups, having experienced at least nine over the past five decades. It is also known as a major hub for drug trafficking, with its uninhabited islands facilitating cocaine transit from Latin America to Europe, earning the UN’s designation as a “narco-state.”
Former Portuguese colony Guinea-Bissau is one of the world’s poorest nations, with a population of over two million. President Embaló had sought re-election and aimed to become the first president in 30 years to secure a consecutive term, though his legitimacy was questioned due to delays in the election process.
Portugal has called for a return to constitutional order, urging all parties to refrain from violence. The situation remains tense, with security forces controlling the streets and checkpoints established across Bissau.
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