A military coup is unfolding in Guinea-Bissau, where President Umaro Sissoco Embaló has reportedly been arrested by armed men just three days after a highly disputed presidential election.
Heavy gunfire was heard early Wednesday in the capital, Bissau, as tensions escalated between security forces and factions loyal to rival political camps.
Both Embaló and opposition challenger Fernando Dias had claimed victory in the contested poll, from which the main opposition party was barred — a move that triggered widespread criticism and heightened political unrest.
Military officers have now announced that they have taken “full control” of the country. In a brief statement broadcast on national radio, they declared the suspension of the electoral process and ordered the immediate closure of all land, air, and sea borders.
Details remain unclear, including whether senior officials, ministers, or military commanders were detained alongside the president. There are also unconfirmed reports of clashes near key government installations.
Regional bodies such as ECOWAS and the African Union have not yet issued statements, but international concern is growing as Guinea-Bissau — a nation with a long history of political instability — faces yet another violent shift of power.
This is a developing story.
