Guinea-Bissau President Embalo Confirms He Was Deposed Amid Military Takeover

Military Seizure of Power

• ⚡ Gunfire erupted near the presidential palace and electoral commission headquarters in Guinea-Bissau's capital.
• 🚨 A group of army officers appeared on national television announcing they had seized power.
• 🚫 The military command declared the immediate deposition of the president, closure of all state institutions, suspension of the electoral process, and closure of borders and airspace.

Stated Justification and Context

• ⚠️ Officers claimed their actions were a reaction to the discovery of an ongoing plan to destabilize the country.
• 🗓️ This move occurred just before provisional results from a tense election were scheduled for announcement.
• 📜 Guinea-Bissau has a history of political instability, having experienced four coups since independence.

President Embalo's Confirmation

• 📞 President Umaro Sissoco Embalo confirmed to FRANCE 24 via phone that he had indeed been deposed.
• 📍 He stated he was at military headquarters and not free to talk.

Election Claims and Political Figures

• 🗳️ Both President Embalo and his political opponent, Fernando Diaz, had claimed victory after Sunday's first round of voting.
• 🤝 Former Prime Minister Domingo Simoz Pereira stated that Diaz was safe and unrelated to the incident.