Heavy tension has gripped Guinea-Bissau following a sudden military takeover that has thrown the nation into fresh political crisis, three days after the country held its general elections.
In an early morning announcement on Wednesday, senior military officers declared that they had assumed total control of the state. They also confirmed the closure of all land, air and sea borders, alongside an immediate suspension of the electoral process.
Reports from Bissau indicate that heavy gunfire erupted around the presidential palace, the headquarters of the election commission and the interior ministry shortly before soldiers took strategic positions across the capital. Checkpoints were mounted on major roads while movement around key government buildings was restricted.
The military statement, delivered by Brigadier General Denis N’Canha, announced the creation of a new governing structure known as the High Military Command for the Restoration of Order. According to the officers, all political institutions and media broadcasts have been suspended until further notice.
Local media also reported the arrest of President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, along with several top officials including the Chief of Staff and the Interior Minister. Sources said the arrests were linked to alleged attempts to manipulate the outcome of the recently conducted elections.
Residents have been ordered to comply with a nationwide curfew as soldiers intensify patrols across sensitive locations. The coup has triggered concerns among regional and international observers who fear that the crisis may further destabilize the West African sub-region.
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