Soldiers in Guinea-Bissau appeared on state television Wednesday to announce they had seized power, deposing the president and suspending all government institutions. The move comes just three days after national elections and marks the latest in a wave of coups destabilizing West Africa.
The military spokesperson, Dinis N’Tchama, cited the “discovery of an ongoing plan” to “manipulate electoral results” as the justification for the takeover, alleging a conspiracy involving national politicians and a “well-known drug lord.” The announcement followed reports of gunfire near the presidential palace in the capital, Bissau.
President Umaro Sissoco Embaló confirmed the coup in an interview with French media, stating he had been deposed and arrested. The military’s action plunges the country into fresh turmoil following a contested electoral process where both the incumbent and his main opponent had claimed victory ahead of official results.
This is the latest in a long history of political instability for Guinea-Bissau, which has experienced four successful coups since independence and has become a major hub for international drug trafficking. The event underscores the persistent fragility of democratic institutions in the region.
By James Kisoo
