In a dramatic power shift, Guinea-Bissau's military has installed General Horta N'Tam as the country's new leader for a period of one year, just one day after seizing control of the government and arresting President Umaro Sissoco Embalo.
Military Takes Control Amid Election Crisis
The capital city of Bissau remained at a complete standstill on Thursday as the coup entered its second day. Most shops and markets stayed closed while soldiers maintained a heavy presence throughout the streets, particularly around the presidential palace where intense gunfire had marked the beginning of the takeover on Wednesday.
General Horta N'Tam, the army chief of staff, was sworn in at military headquarters and declared that he had taken the oath to lead the High Command. Dozens of heavily armed soldiers surrounded the scene as the general addressed journalists, justifying the military's actions as necessary to protect democracy.
This latest upheaval adds to Guinea-Bissau's troubled political history. The small West African nation, situated between Guinea and Senegal, has experienced four successful coups since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974, along with numerous attempted power grabs.
Electoral Process Suspended Amid Claims of Democratic Threat
The military intervention came at a critical moment, derailing the announcement of results from last Sunday's presidential election that pitted incumbent President Embalo against opposition candidate Fernando Dias. Military officers claimed they had uncovered a plan involving drug lords and the introduction of weapons intended to disrupt the constitutional order.
General Denis N'Canha, head of the presidential military office, announced on Wednesday that the military was assuming control of the country until further notice. In addition to suspending the entire electoral process, the military forces halted all media programming and imposed a mandatory curfew.
Although the country's land, air, and sea borders were reopened on Thursday according to General Lassana Mansali, the political situation remains tense and uncertain.
International Condemnation and Questions About Motives
The African Union has strongly condemned the coup and demanded the immediate and unconditional release of President Embalo. The chair of ECOWAS, West Africa's regional bloc, described the military takeover as a grave violation of Guinea-Bissau's constitutional order.
Meanwhile, researchers and members of Guinea-Bissau's diaspora have expressed skepticism about the military's stated motives. Some analysts suggest that unverified preliminary results circulating before the coup showed opposition candidate Fernando Dias as the election winner, leading to speculation that the power grab might ultimately benefit the ousted president.
One West African researcher told AFP that he doubted the military's claims about restoring order, suggesting instead that this was a coup aimed at preventing the opposition candidate from taking power. According to this analysis, the situation could provide an opportunity for Embalo to negotiate his release and potentially reposition himself for future elections.
The coup in Guinea-Bissau represents the latest in a series of military takeovers that have destabilized West Africa in recent years, following similar events in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Guinea.
