Coup in Guinea-Bissau: Military Claims 'Total Control' and Detains President

A group of military officers in Guinea-Bissau announced on Wednesday that they had taken "total control" of the country and ordered the suspension of the presidential election until further notice. Calling themselves the "High Military Command for the Restoration of Order," the officers said they had closed land, air and sea borders and imposed an overnight curfew.

Violence and detentions

The announcement followed reports of sustained gunfire near the election commission headquarters, the presidential palace and the Ministry of the Interior in the capital, Bissau. Incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embalo said he had been deposed and reported that he was at the general staff headquarters; a correspondent in the region later reported that Embalo had been detained. Domingos Simoes Pereira, leader of the main opposition party PAIGC, was also reported detained.

The officer identified as leading the action is Denis N'Canha, a former head of the presidential guard. Observers noted the irony that the commander once responsible for protecting the president appeared to be the one detaining him.

Election in dispute

Sunday's presidential ballot — which matched President Umaro Sissoco Embalo against his principal challenger, Fernando Dias — had been scheduled for results to be announced later this week. The vote was already clouded by questions of legitimacy after civil society groups raised concerns when PAIGC candidates were barred from participating. Both Embalo and Dias publicly claimed victory, each saying the election had been won in the first round despite limited evidence to support either claim.

Embalo's campaign spokesperson, Oscar Barbosa, had insisted there would be no second round and that the president would secure a second term. Dias also posted a video declaring victory and saying the election "has been won in the first round." The competing claims risked producing a political impasse that observers feared could destabilize the country.

International reaction and context

Portugal called for restraint and urged all parties to refrain from violence, saying state institutions must be allowed to function so the electoral process can be concluded. Guinea-Bissau has a long history of coups and attempted coups since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974; a disputed presidential vote in 2019 triggered a prolonged post-election crisis.

Key facts: military takeover announced; election suspended; borders closed; curfew in place; reports of gunfire and high-profile detentions.

Developments remain fluid. Independent verification of some reports is difficult amid attempts to restrict communications. Further updates will be needed to confirm the full sequence of events and the status of detained leaders.