Army claims full control in Guinea-Bissau, General sworn in as transitional leader

General Horta Nta Na Man has been sworn in as the transitional president of Guinea-Bissau, one day after army officers announced they had deposed the country’s president, marking the latest military coup in the West African nation.

“I have just been sworn in to lead the high command,” General Nta Na Man declared after taking the oath of office at a ceremony held at the military headquarters on November 27, Al Jazeera reports.

Having served as the chief of staff of Guinea-Bissau’s army, Nta Na Man was considered close to President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, who was ousted on November 26. He defended the coup, saying that evidence had been “sufficient to justify the operation” and adding that “necessary measures are urgent and important and require everyone’s participation.”

The African Union (AU) Commission chairperson condemned the military takeover and called for the immediate and unconditional release of Embalo and all detained officials.

Military officers, calling themselves “the High Military Command for the Restoration of Order,” announced on national television that they had removed Embalo, in what is the latest episode of political turmoil in the coup-prone nation. The move came one day before provisional results were expected from a closely contested presidential election between Embalo and political newcomer Fernando Dias, 47, who had emerged as Embalo’s main challenger.

On November 27, the capital, Bissau, was largely quiet, with soldiers patrolling the streets and many residents remaining indoors even after the overnight curfew was lifted. The military declared that it had assumed full powers and implemented emergency measures, including the suspension of the electoral process, closure of public institutions, suspension of media activities, and the shutdown of all land, sea, and air borders. A mandatory curfew from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. local time was also imposed.

Local media reported that at around 1:00 p.m. local time, heavy gunfire erupted near the presidential palace in downtown Bissau, prompting residents nearby to flee. Military personnel subsequently secured the main road leading to the palace.

Military sources said that several senior government officials were detained during the operation, including Interior Minister Botche Cande, Chief of the General Staff Biague Na Ntan, and Deputy Chief of Staff Mamadou Toure.

The coup announcement came a day after both leading presidential candidates had claimed victory in the tightly contested election. Sustained gunfire was reported near the election commission headquarters, the presidential palace, and the Ministry of the Interior. “I have been deposed,” Embalo later told a French broadcaster in a phone call on November 26, adding that he was “currently at the general staff headquarters.” His whereabouts remained unknown on November 27.

Reporting from neighboring Senegal, Al Jazeera’s Nicolas Haque noted that Nta Na Man’s swearing-in “has thrown the political process into question.” He added: “It seems that an election will take place, but at least not in the year to come. What is interesting is that when he was sworn into office, he was surrounded by the top brass of the military. He seems to be surrounded and has the legitimacy of the military force, and that’s quite an important force inside the country, where there have been dozens of coups before.”

By Vafa Guliyeva