A group of military officers in Guinea-Bissau announced on March 15, 2024, that they have seized power, just as the nation awaited the results of a contentious presidential election. This development came as the electoral commission prepared to announce provisional results from the election held on March 10, where incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embalo faced a strong challenge from former prime minister Fernando Dias.
In a televised statement, the officers declared the deposition of President Embalo, suspended the electoral process, and instituted a curfew while closing the country’s borders. They referred to themselves as “The High Military Command for the Restoration of Order,” asserting that they would govern until further notice.
Gunfire erupted shortly before the announcement near key government sites, including the electoral commission headquarters and the presidential palace. Witnesses reported that the shooting lasted for approximately one hour but had ceased by 14:00 GMT (09:00 ET). As of now, there have been no reports of casualties.
The electoral commission was expected to reveal the results of the election, where Embalo aimed to secure a second consecutive term—an achievement not seen in Guinea-Bissau in nearly three decades. Prior to the coup, both the incumbent and Dias had claimed victory in the initial voting round.
Embalo’s spokesperson, Antonio Yaya Seidy, claimed that unidentified gunmen attacked the electoral commission to obstruct the results announcement, alleging that the attackers had ties to Dias, though no evidence was provided. A spokesperson for Dias has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Domingos Simoes Pereira, a former prime minister who lost to Embalo in a disputed runoff in 2019 and has endorsed Dias in the current election, asserted that Dias was not involved in the incident. Pereira stated that Dias was meeting with election observers when they received news of the gunfire. He confirmed that Dias remained safe in the capital city of Bissau.
Guinea-Bissau has a tumultuous history, marked by at least nine coups or attempted coups since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974. President Embalo himself has claimed to have survived three coup attempts during his administration. Critics of his government have accused him of orchestrating crises to justify repressive measures.
As the situation unfolds, the international community remains watchful, considering Guinea-Bissau’s history of political instability and the potential implications of the military’s actions on the democratic process in the country.
