West African regional bloc ECOWAS on Thursday condemned the military takeover in Guinea-Bissau. The bloc called for the release of President Umaro Sissoko Embalo and other arrested officials.
ECOWAS President Julius Maada Bio “unequivocally condemned the coup,” calling it a “serious violation of Guinea-Bissau’s constitutional order” and warning that it threatened regional stability, the bloc said in a statement.
Soldiers closed the main road leading to Guinea-Bissau’s presidential palace and the electoral commission and interior ministry on Wednesday after prolonged gunfire was heard in the area.
Soon after, a group of army officers held a press conference saying they had seized power and ousted President Oumareau Sissoko Embalo after the first round of general elections on Sunday.
Officials said they had formed a “higher military command for the restoration of order” and would remain in charge until further notice.
General Denis N’Kanha, head of the Presidential Military Office, urged the public to “remain calm”. He said that the military command that seized power was “composed of all branches of the armed forces.”
Borders and airspace closed, curfew imposed
“I have been deposed,” President Emballo said later, speaking to France 24 broadcaster. AFP news agency quoted military sources as saying that the current head of state was being “treated well”.
Military officials said they had suspended the electoral process, claiming it was necessary to clarify the situation before returning to constitutional order.
He also said he had temporarily closed the country’s borders and airspace and imposed a curfew.
Presidential Guard and soldiers from an elite gendarmerie unit manned hastily set up checkpoints in the capital, Bissau, and the sounds of gunfire reportedly subsided by the afternoon.
Results are pending after Sunday’s voting
The impoverished West African country was awaiting the results of the election, where both the incumbent and the main rival have already claimed victory.
Official results of Sunday’s election, which were largely peaceful, were due to be published on Thursday.
But on Tuesday, incumbent President Umaro Sissoko Embalo and opposition candidate Fernando Dias da Costa both claimed victory. This comes despite the country having a two-round electoral system, with a runoff vote perhaps the most likely scenario if no one among multiple candidates can win more than 50% of the vote.
Since independence in 1974, Guinea-Bissau has seen four successful coups and countless attempted coups. Several senior military officers were arrested in late October by the government on charges of plotting a coup.
The former Portuguese colony abruptly expelled journalists from major Portuguese-language news outlets such as the LUSA news agency in August this year ahead of the vote.
Edited by Jennifer Cimino Gonzalez