By Ayo Kehinde j
Military officers in Guinea-Bissau, has announced that they have assumed “total control” of the country, suspending its electoral process and shutting all borders.
Gunfire was earlier heard near the presidential palace in the coup-prone West African country as men in military uniform blocked access by taking control of the main road leading to the building.
The heavily armed military men arrested President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and several top government and military officials.
Confirming his arrest, Embaló told Jeune Afrique that he was detained while working in his office at the presidential palace. He described the development as a “coup d’état” orchestrated by the armed forces’ chief of staff. According to him, the armed men did not use force during the arrest.
“I have been deposed”, Embalo said, adding that he could not talk further without risking his phone being confiscated.
Several senior officials were also seized, including the army chief of staff, General Biaguê Na Ntan; his deputy, General Mamadou Touré; and Interior Minister Botché Candé.
The coup comes just three days after a tense presidential election marked by controversy and the disqualification of the main opposition candidate. Although official provisional results are due on Thursday, both Embaló and his closest rival, Fernando Dias de Costa, have already claimed victory, heightening political tension.
Journalists monitoring the election reported scenes of chaos as gunfire erupted near the National Electoral Commission (CNE) headquarters. A reporter said his team and CNE workers were forced to hide in an office as shots were fired around the building.
Meanwhile former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan and several African dignitaries remain stranded in Guinea-Bissau following Wednesday’s military takeover that abruptly halted the country’s electoral process.
The former President is part of a 36-member high-level joint election observation mission deployed by the African Union (AU), the ECO WAS and the West African Elders Forum (WAEF) to monitor the November 23 presidential and legislative elections.
With borders closed and the situation tense, the visiting heads of mission, including Jonathan, remain in the country under restricted movement.
