Guinea-Bissau, a day after the military coup • FRANCE 24 English

Key Concepts

• Military Coup: Seizure of power by the military.
• General Hortona: Newly inaugurated head of the military government in Guinea-Bissau.
• President Umaro Sissoco Embaló: Deposed president of Guinea-Bissau.
• Fernando Djá: Political opponent of President Embaló.
• Corruption: Dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power, typically involving bribery.
• Drug Trafficking: Illegal trade or dealing in the narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
• Destabilization: The action of causing something to become unstable.
• Election Results: Official announcement of the outcome of an election.

New Leadership in Guinea-Bissau Amidst Coup

On Thursday, General Hortona was inaugurated as the head of the military government in Guinea-Bissau. He pledged to aggressively combat corruption, specifically mentioning drug trafficking, state corruption, political corruption, and corruption within Guinean society.

Events Leading to the Coup

The inauguration followed a day of panic in the capital, Bissau, marked by gunfire and armed soldiers taking control of roads. A military group subsequently appeared on state television, announcing their seizure of power. They stated their actions were a response to the discovery of a plan to destabilize the country. This development occurred just before the provisional results of a contentious election were scheduled for announcement in the West African nation, which has a history of political instability, having experienced four coups since gaining independence.

Deposed President's Account

President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, who was seeking a second term, confirmed his deposition in a phone call with France 24. He stated he was at a military headquarters and unable to speak freely.

Conflicting Claims of Victory and Coup Allegations

Both President Embaló and his political opponent, Fernando Djá, had claimed victory following the first round of voting. Djá, however, alleged that the president's arrest was a staged event intended to disrupt the election process. Djá stated, "I simply wanted to inform you that once again we are the target of a fabricated coup attempt. I am the winner of the elections. I have polling station reports confirming my victory. I won the elections. So how could I possibly orchestrate a coup?"

Opposition's Response

The opposition called for residents to protest the coup and demand the official release of the election results.

Synthesis and Conclusion

The events in Guinea-Bissau represent a military takeover, with General Hortona assuming leadership and vowing to address corruption and drug trafficking. This coup occurred amidst a tense electoral period, with both the incumbent president and his opponent claiming victory. The deposed president confirmed his removal, while his opponent accused the president of staging the coup to manipulate the election outcome. The opposition has mobilized for protests to demand the release of election results, highlighting the ongoing political instability in the country.