Soldiers in Guinea-Bissau have announced a new junta leader.

This cements a forceful takeover of power that began after a disputed presidential election, in what the main opposition candidate called a ploy to prevent him from taking over power.

According to a declaration broadcast on state television, the military high command in the West African nation inaugurated General Horta Inta-A as the Head of the military government, which will oversee a one-year transition period.

Inta-A, who was the Army Chief of staff until the coup and a close ally of deposed President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, said that the “inability of political actors to stem the deterioration of the political climate ultimately prompted the intervention of the armed forces.”

Meanwhile, Embaló’s whereabouts remained unknown today. He told French media yesterday that he was arrested by soldiers as gunshots rang out near the presidential palace.

Gunshots rang out in the main city of Bissau on Wednesday just days after the tense presidential election, which Embaló and Dias both claimed to have won.

In a scene that has become familiar in the region, military officers appeared on state television and claimed they had seized power while the election commission’s office was sealed.

The opposition, meanwhile, alleged Embaló had fabricated the coup to avoid an election defeat in Sunday’s closely contested presidential vote.

According to his rival Fernando Dias, who, like Embaló, claimed to have won the vote, the military takeover and the reported arrest of Embaló were “fabricated” to disrupt election results expected today.

Dias, 47, said in a video statement that he escaped custody “through a back door” after reports he was arrested by soldiers. He vowed to fight back.

“Umaro lost the elections, and instead of accepting the result, he fabricated a coup d’état. Once again, we, we have been the target of a false coup d’état. … We will liberate ourselves.”
Fernando Dias

The opposition African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde, along with Dias, had called on residents to stage protests against the coup and demand publication of the election results. However, this morning, activities appeared to be normal in the capital Bissau, with businesses and public transport gradually picking up.

Guinea-Bissau, one of the world’s poorest countries, has been dogged by coups and attempted coups since its independence from Portugal more than 50 years ago, including a coup attempt in October. The country of 2.2 million people is known as a hub for drug trafficking between Latin America and Europe, a trend that experts say has fueled its political crises.

The coup is the latest in a surge of military takeovers in West Africa, where democracy recently has been challenged by disputed elections that analysts say could embolden militaries.

It followed presidential and legislative elections which were held at a critical time for the African country as Embaló, a 53-year-old former army general, faced a legitimacy crisis. The opposition said his tenure had long expired and refused to recognize him as President.

Beverly Ochieng, a Senior Security Analyst at the consultancy Control Risks, noted that the coup and past ones in Guinea-Bissau are tied to “how much (state) institutions have been undermined and weakened.”

She said that under Embaló, “the legislature was dissolved unilaterally, the judiciary was operating under capacity, and there were deep-seated sentiments around political influence.”

Coup Condemned

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf condemned the coup, calling for the respect of the electoral process and for the unconditional release of President Embaló and other detained officials.

In a statement, Youssouf said that the AU was ready to work with partners to restore stability and safeguard the democratic process.

South Africa also joined other African countries in condemning the coup and called for “the immediate restoration of democracy and completion of the electoral process.”

France also called for the respect for the constitutional order and democracy in the country.