The military took power in Guinea-Bissau today, after a shootout that lasted about half an hour, according to a statement from the Guinean Armed Forces.
The statement was read on Guinean state television TGB by the spokesperson for the High Military Command, Dinis N’Tchamawhich reports that the military has assumed leadership of the country.
The communication states that it was “established, by the senior military leaders of the different branches of the Armed Forces, the Military High Command for the restoration of national security and public order” and that the same “has just assumed full State powers of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau”.
The Military High Command informs that it has deposed the President of the Republic, Umaro Sissoco Embalóand that closed, “Until further notice, all institutions of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau”.
It further informs that are suspended “the activities of all media bodies”as decided “immediately suspend the ongoing electoral process”.
The military also closed all of the country’s bordersland, sea and national airspace, and established “mandatory curfew from 7:00 pm until 6:00 am, until the necessary conditions are restored to restore the constitutional normality of the Guinean State”.
In the statement, it explains that this is a reaction “to discover a ongoing plan to destabilize the country”attributed to “some national politicians with the participation of known national and foreign drug lords”.
According to the military, the plan would consist of “attempted manipulation of electoral results” of Sunday’s general elections, which were scheduled to be announced on Thursday.
The Military High Command adds that “a warehouse of war weapons was discovered by the State Information Service” intended for “implementation of this plan”.
The Military High Command will exercise State power from today “until the entire situation is properly clarified and restored the conditions for a full return to constitutional normality”he adds.
The military appeals “to the calm, collaboration of Guineans and everyone’s understanding of the” what they classify as “serious situation imposed by a national emergency”.
This ongoing military coup in Guinea-Bissau comes after being heard small arms and war shots in the center of the city of Bissau, capital of Guinea-Bissau, since 12:40, according to reports made to Lusa via telephone by witnesses on the ground.
The electoral observation missions of the African Union and the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP) had stated that the electoral process took place in a “orderly and organized”calling for respect for the will of voters and democratic principles, in a preliminary assessment of the elections in Guinea-Bissau made at the beginning of the week.
On Tuesday, and already after the candidate Fernando Dias da Costa declared himself the winner of the elections without the need for a second round, Sissoco Embaló’s spokesman also said that “Everything indicates that there will be no second round”but the results achieved by the then President of the Republic in Sunday’s vote did not help.
In statements made before the ongoing coup d’état, Óscar Barbosa urged Guineans “to remain calm and wait for the election results to be released by the National Elections Commission (CNE), to be made on Thursday”.
Today, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Portugal stated that constitutional normality had been interrupted and appealed for tranquility.
In view of “events that interrupted the course of constitutional normality in Guinea-Bissau”the Portuguese Government called on everyone involved to refrain from any act of institutional or civic violence.
It also calls for “the regular functioning of institutions is resumed, so that the process of counting and announcing the electoral results can be finalized”.