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PARIS | TASS & Xinhua | Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo acknowledged that a coup is underway in the country, telling France 24 that he has been overthrown by the military.
“I have been ousted. I can’t say much, otherwise they will take my phone away. I am at headquarters now,” he said during a brief phone call with the channel’s correspondent.
The military, named “the High Military Command for the Restoration of National Security and Public Order,” said the move was intended to respond to the actions of certain politicians attempting to destabilize the country.
Army spokesperson Denis N’Canha announced to journalists that the military had seized power in Guinea-Bissau, with the ongoing electoral process immediately suspended.
Other measures also included the closure of public institutions, suspension of media activities, as well as the closure of all land, sea, and air borders. The military ordered a mandatory curfew from 7:00 p.m. local time to 6:00 a.m. local time.
“All state institutions are suspended,” he said, adding that the country’s borders have been closed and the vote count from the November 23 presidential and parliamentary elections has been halted.
According to local media, at around 1:00 p.m. local time, heavy gunfire was heard near the presidential palace in downtown Bissau, the capital. Residents nearby fled, and military personnel subsequently took control of the main road leading to the palace.
Military sources told Xinhua that several senior government officials were detained during the operation, including Interior Minister Botche Cande, Chief of the General Staff Biague Na Ntan, and Deputy Chief of Staff Mamadou Toure.
A Xinhua reporter observed on site that by the time of reporting, Bissau had returned to apparent calm. With the curfew approaching, the number of pedestrians and vehicles on the streets significantly decreased, but a large number of troops were still deployed at strategic locations across the city.
The Chinese Embassy in Guinea-Bissau issued an emergency consular alert on the same day, urging Chinese citizens in the country to strengthen safety precautions.
The embassy urged people living or working near conflict-prone areas to closely follow local security updates, remain vigilant, and avoid unnecessary travel. In case of emergencies, citizens were advised to report to the police promptly and contact the embassy for necessary assistance.
AFP also reported that the military, after declaring the seizure of power, closed the country’s borders. The coup leaders claim to have taken full control of the country. Umaro Sissoco Embalo has been arrested by the coup organizers.
Guinea-Bissau on Sunday launched its presidential and legislative elections, with more than 960,000 registered voters set to choose a new head of state and 102 members of the National People’s Assembly. The election commission had planned to announce provisional results on November 28.
