What You Need to Know
The military leadership in Guinea-Bissau has appointed General Horta Nta as the head of a transitional government following a coup declared after the recent presidential elections. The opposition claims the coup was fabricated to avoid electoral defeat, while calls for protests against the military takeover have emerged amid a tense political climate.
Africa. The military leadership in Guinea-Bissau has announced the appointment of a new head of the military council, reinforcing their military coup declared after the presidential elections held last Sunday.
According to an announcement broadcast by the country’s official television, the military leadership has installed General Horta Nta as the head of the military government, which will oversee a one-year transitional period.
Nta was the chief of staff of the army prior to the coup and was a close ally of the ousted president, Umaro Sissoco Embaló, whose whereabouts remained unknown until Thursday. He stated to French media yesterday that soldiers had arrested him amid gunfire near the presidential palace.
Meanwhile, the opposition claimed that Embaló “fabricated” the coup to avoid an electoral defeat in the presidential elections held on Sunday, which were marked by intense competition.
His rival, Fernando Dias, who, like Embaló, claimed victory in the elections, stated that the military takeover and the reported arrest of Embaló were “fabricated” to obstruct the election results that were scheduled to be announced today.
Call for Protests
The African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde, the opposition party, has called on citizens to organize protests against the coup and demand the release of the election results.
However, activities appeared normal in the capital Bissau this morning, as businesses and public transport began to gradually resume operations.
Latest in a Series of Coups
Guinea-Bissau has suffered from coups and attempted coups since its independence from Portugal over 50 years ago, including an attempted coup last October. The country, with a population of 2.2 million, is known as a hub for drug trafficking between Latin America and Europe, a trend that experts say has fueled its political crises.
The coup represents the latest episode in a series of military takeovers in West Africa, where democracy has recently faced challenges due to disputed elections, which analysts say may encourage military interventions.
Gunfire erupted in the capital Bissau just days after the tense presidential elections, with both Embaló and Dias claiming victory.
In a scene that has become familiar in the region, military officers appeared on state television and claimed they had taken control. Embaló later told French media that he had been arrested while at the electoral commission’s office.
The elections this week were held at a critical time for the African nation, as Embaló, a former general, faced a legitimacy crisis. The opposition claimed his term had long expired and refused to recognize him as president.
The military officers who announced the president’s ousting referred to “discovering an ongoing plan to manipulate the election results,” with a spokesperson for them, Denis Nshama, surrounded by others during the televised statement, stating that “some national politicians devised this plan with the involvement of a known drug trafficker and local and foreign citizens.”
Several international bodies and countries condemned the coup, including the African Union, which called for the “immediate and unconditional” release of the ousted president Umaro Sissoco Embaló and all detained officials, urging all parties to “exercise maximum restraint to avoid any deterioration of the situation.”
Guinea-Bissau, one of the world’s poorest nations, has experienced numerous coups and attempted coups since gaining independence from Portugal over 50 years ago. The country is known for its role in drug trafficking between Latin America and Europe, a trend that experts say has exacerbated its political crises.
The recent coup is part of a broader pattern of military takeovers in West Africa, where democracy has faced challenges due to disputed elections. Following the recent tense presidential elections, military officers appeared on state television claiming control, reflecting a familiar scene in the region’s political landscape.
