Chaos gripped the capital of Guinea-Bissau today as gunfire rang out near key government buildings, amid reports of a suspected military coup President Umaro Sissoco Embaló stated that armed men detained him around 1 p.m. local time while he was in his office at the presidential palace, describing the incident as a coup d'état led by the army's chief of staff.
Witnesses reported heavy gunfire near the National Electoral Commission headquarters, the presidential palace, and the interior ministry, lasting approximately an hour.
Journalists covering the recent presidential election sought cover as security deteriorated rapidly in the area. The arrests extended beyond the president to include General Biaguê Na Ntan, the armed forces' chief of staff, his deputy, General Mamadou Touré; and Interior Minister Botché Candé.
A group of army officers appeared on state television, announcing they had formed the High Military Command for the Restoration of National Security and Public Order.
They declared total control over the country until further notice and sealed all land, air, and sea borders. This development comes just days after the November 23 presidential election, where both Embaló and opposition candidate Fernando Dias de Costa claimed first-round victories, with official results expected on November 27.
Embaló's camp accused armed men linked to Dias of attacking the electoral commission to disrupt vote counting, though Dias denied involvement and suggested the chaos was staged. Former Prime Minister Domingos Simões Pereira confirmed that Dias remains safe in Bissau.
The situation remains tense, with heavy military presence in the streets and residents urged to stay indoors. This event marks another chapter in Guinea-Bissau's history of political instability, having experienced multiple coups since independence in 1974. Regional bodies, including the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), are monitoring developments closely.