Guinea-Bissau Military Seizes Power, Declares “Total Control” After Election Gunfire

Soldiers in Guinea-Bissau announced Wednesday that they had taken “total control” of the country, suspended the electoral process and sealed the nation’s borders, following a bout of gunfire near key government buildings.

In a statement broadcast on state television, the self-styled “High Military Command for the Restoration of Order” announced the suspension of all government institutions, the closure of land, air and sea borders, and the imposition of a nationwide curfew “until further notice.”

The move comes just three days after presidential and parliamentary elections, in which both the incumbent, Umaro Sissoco Embaló, and challenger Fernando Dias da Costa claimed victory — before any official result had been announced. It follows widespread concern over political instability in the West African nation.

Eyewitnesses and journalists reported that heavy gunfire erupted near the capital’s presidential palace, the interior ministry, and the national electoral commission. Roads leading to these sites were quickly cordoned off by armed troops.

In a televised announcement, military spokesman Dinis N’Tchama justified the takeover, claiming it was necessary to prevent what they described as a scheme to destabilise the country through manipulation of electoral results involving “national politicians” and allegedly “a well-known drug lord.”

The whereabouts of President Embaló remained unclear at the time of the announcement. The High Command has not yet laid out a timetable for restoring civilian rule.

Guinea-Bissau has a long history of political turmoil: this is the country’s ninth coup or attempted coup since independence in 1974.