Guinea-Bissau Coup: President Embalo Arrives in Senegal, Military Seizes Control Before Election Results

Deposed Guinea-Bissau President Embalo Reaches Senegal After Military Coup

Guinea-Bissau's political landscape has been dramatically reshaped following a military takeover, culminating in the arrival of the deposed President Umaro Sissoco Embalo in neighboring Senegal. Senegal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs officially confirmed Embalo's presence, stating he arrived on Thursday night aboard a Senegalese-chartered aircraft, following engagement by Senegalese authorities with various actors in Guinea-Bissau to try to secure his release, a day after military officers seized power.

The Coup's Unfolding and Military's Declaration

The coup unfolded on Wednesday, catching the nation in a state of flux just before the anticipated release of presidential election results. Military officers, identifying themselves as the "High Military Command for the Restoration of Order," declared on national television that they had assumed "total control" of the West African nation. Their immediate actions included the suspension of the entire electoral process indefinitely, sealing the country's borders, and imposing an overnight curfew.

The swift power grab came amidst a contentious election. Incumbent President Embalo was seeking re-election against his primary contender, Fernando Dias. Both candidates had prematurely claimed victory, adding to the pre-coup tension. Further fueling the political unrest, the main opposition PAIGC party was prohibited from fielding a presidential candidate, a move that drew sharp criticism from civil society organizations who questioned the legitimacy of the electoral exercise.

Transitional Leadership and International Outcry

In a move solidifying their control, General Horta Inta-A was sworn in as Guinea-Bissau’s transitional president on Thursday. He publicly defended the military’s intervention, asserting that there was "sufficient [evidence] to justify the operation."

A Nation's History of Instability

This latest coup marks another chapter in Guinea-Bissau's turbulent post-independence history since breaking away from Portugal in 1974, a history unfortunately riddled with military interventions. The international community has reacted with widespread concern. The African Union Commission's chairperson condemned the coup on Thursday, demanding the immediate and unconditional release of Embalo and all other officials detained during the takeover. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf urged all factions to exercise extreme restraint to prevent any further escalation of the volatile situation. Senegal's government has reaffirmed its commitment to collaborate with regional bodies like ECOWAS and the African Union, along with other international partners, to foster dialogue, restore stability, and rapidly reinstate constitutional order and democratic legitimacy in the "brotherly nation."