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Military officers seize control in Guinea-Bissau, president reportedly arrested
Military officers in Guinea-Bissau announced a coup on Wednesday, declaring they had taken control of the country and detained President Umaro Sissoco Embaló amid gunfire in the capital, Bissau. The officers suspended the electoral process days before the official results of Sunday's presidential election were due, citing an alleged plot by unnamed politicians and a "well-known drug baron" to destabilize the nation.
Gunfire and detentions follow election tensions
Witnesses reported heavy gunfire near the presidential palace around 13:00 GMT, prompting hundreds to flee on foot and in vehicles, according to AFP. Government sources later told the BBC that Embaló, along with his rival candidate Fernando Dias, former Prime Minister Domingos Pereira, and Interior Minister Botché Candé, had been detained. The military also took custody of army chief Gen. Biague Na Ntan and his deputy, Gen. Mamadou Touré.
In a televised statement, Gen. Denis N'Canha, head of the presidential palace's military household, declared the formation of the High Military Command for the Restoration of Order and urged citizens to "remain calm." The group imposed a nighttime curfew starting at 19:00 GMT and closed the country's borders.
Election results halted amid coup claims
The coup disrupts Guinea-Bissau's presidential election, where both Embaló and Dias had prematurely claimed victory. Results were expected Thursday after what international observers-including the African Union and ECOWAS-described as an "orderly and peaceful" vote. The observers condemned the military's intervention, calling it "regrettable" in a joint statement, particularly after meeting with both candidates, who had pledged to respect the election outcome.
"It's regrettable that this announcement came at a time when the missions had just concluded meeting with the two leading presidential candidates, who assured us of their willingness to accept the will of the people."
African Union and ECOWAS election observation missions
History of instability and drug trafficking
Guinea-Bissau, a former Portuguese colony with a population of over 2 million, has endured at least nine coups or attempted coups since gaining independence in 1974. The country's strategic coastline, dotted with uninhabited islands, has made it a key transit hub for Latin American cocaine bound for Europe, earning it the UN label of a "narco-state." Embaló, 53, had sought to become the first president in 30 years to win a second consecutive term, though his legitimacy was contested by opponents who argued his mandate expired in February 2025.
Critics accuse Embaló of manufacturing crises to suppress dissent, while the president has claimed to survive multiple coup attempts. Earlier on Wednesday, he told France 24 by phone, "I have been deposed." Portugal, the former colonial power, called for a return to constitutional order, urging "all involved to refrain from institutional or civic violence."
Curfew imposed as capital locks down
Checkpoints were erected across Bissau, and streets emptied ahead of the curfew. The military's statement offered no details on casualties from the earlier gunfire, nor did it specify the duration of the border closures or curfew. Guinea-Bissau ranks among the world's poorest nations, with chronic political instability exacerbating its economic struggles.
