Guinea-Bissau descended into cha0s on Wednesday as outgoing President Umaro Sissoco Embaló claimed he was arrested at the presidential palace around 1 p.m., describing the development as a “c0up d’état” led by the army chief of staff. He said no force was used during his detention.
Guunfir£ was reported near the National Electoral Commission (CNE) in Bissau, with journalists covering the presidential election forced to hide inside offices as security rapidly deteriorated around them.
The arrests extended beyond the president. Those detained include the arm£d forces’ chief of staff, General Biaguê Na Ntan; his deputy, General Mamadou Touré; and the interior minister, Botché Candé. Embaló insisted he had legitimately won last Sunday’s presidential election with “65% of the vote,” according to his own tally, even though official provisional results are not expected until Thursday.
Both Embaló and opposition candidate Fernando Dias de Costa had already declared first-round victory, reflecting the deep political fractures that have long troubled Guinea-Bissau. The exclusion of the major opposition party PAIGC and its leader Domingos Simões Pereira from the race had initially positioned Embaló as the favourite, but Dias de Costa’s strong performance unsettled expectations.
Analysts say the current rupture stems from years of mistrust between the presidency and the military, historically the most powerful institution in the country. Embaló’s push to centralise authority, restructure security agencies and sideline rivals reportedly intensified tensions. His early self-proclaimed victory and alleged pressure on institutions appear to have triggered a backlash within the armed forces.
The situation remains fluid, with the capital on edge and the country facing yet another political crisis that underscores its long-standing institutional fragility.
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