Guinea-Bissau’s President Umaro Sissoco Embaló was detained by the country’s military on Wednesday in what appears to be a coup, just three days after highly contested presidential elections.
Heavy gunfire erupted near the presidential palace in Bissau shortly after 1:00 p.m. local time, with reports indicating that soldiers stormed the palace, overpowered the presidential guard, and took Embaló into custody.
Speaking briefly to French-language outlet Jeune Afrique after his arrest, Embaló confirmed, “I have been arrested by the army. I am currently detained at the palace.” His exact whereabouts remain under military control, and the armed forces have yet to release an official statement.
The coup follows Sunday’s elections, which were marred by disputes as both Embaló and opposition candidate Fernando Dias da Costa claimed victory prior to the announcement of official results. Tensions had escalated after the Supreme Court barred several major opposition parties, including the historic PAIGC, fueling accusations of an “institutional coup.”
Guinea-Bissau, a small West African nation, has a history of political instability, having experienced at least ten successful or attempted coups since its independence in 1974. Embaló, a former army general, has ruled largely by decree since dissolving parliament in December 2023.
As of Wednesday evening, neither the military nor regional bodies such as ECOWAS and the African Union had commented on the situation. Sporadic gunfire has been reported in various parts of the capital, and official election results, initially scheduled for Thursday, November 27, have not yet been released.
