A group of military officers in Guinea-Bissau has seized control of the country, arresting President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and suspending the electoral process.

The move comes amid reports of gunfire in the capital, Bissau, and follows a disputed presidential election held on Sunday.

According to eyewitnesses, gunshots were heard near the presidential palace and the National Electoral Commission headquarters, prompting hundreds of people to flee the area.

General Denis N’Canha, head of the military household at the presidential palace, later appeared on state TV, announcing the formation of the “High Military Command for the Restoration of Order” and instructing the population to remain calm.

Embaló, who was elected in December 2019, had claimed victory in the presidential election, as had his closest rival, Fernando Dias.

The official results were expected to be announced on Thursday, but the military’s takeover has thrown the country’s future into uncertainty.

The arrested president confirmed his detention to Jeune Afrique magazine, stating that he was taken into custody without violence.

Other high-ranking officials, including the Chief of Defence Forces, General Biague Na Ntan, and Interior Minister Botché Candé, were also reportedly arrested.

Guinea-Bissau, a small West African nation with a population of under two million, has a history of instability, having experienced nine coups or attempted coups since 1980.

Embaló has previously survived multiple coup attempts, but critics accuse him of fabricating crises to crack down on dissent.

The international community has responded with concern, with the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) calling for respect for the electoral process and the release of detained officials.

The situation remains fluid, with the military’s intentions and the future of Guinea-Bissau’s government unclear.

The Maravi Post