Guinea-Bissau’s Deposed President Embalo Arrives in Senegal Following Military Coup

Guinea-Bissau’s deposed President, Umaro Sissoco Embalo, has arrived safely in Senegal after being detained during a military coup in his country, the Senegalese government confirmed on Thursday.

Embalo was flown to Senegal on a government-chartered military plane, with officials stating that he arrived “safe and sound” following his detention by the military in Bissau.

The coup, which occurred on Wednesday, took place just one day before authorities were due to announce the provisional results of the presidential and parliamentary elections, throwing the country into political uncertainty.

Following the coup, Guinea-Bissau’s military appointed General Horta N’Tam, the chief of staff of the army, as the country’s new leader for a period of one year. N’Tam, who had previously been close to Embalo, took the oath of office at the military headquarters, stating, “I have just been sworn in to lead the High Command.”

This development marks a dramatic shift in power as the military seized control, halting the electoral process and postponing the announcement of election results that had been expected on Wednesday.

Opposition candidate Fernando Dias da Costa, who was Embalo’s main challenger in the recent election, has alleged that Embalo orchestrated the coup to prevent him from assuming office. Dias claims to have won Sunday’s election with approximately 52 percent of the vote and dismissed the coup narrative as a pretext for a power grab by the incumbent.

“I am the president-elect of Guinea-Bissau,” Dias told AFP by telephone. “There was not a coup. It was organised by Mr Embalo.”

Dias reportedly went into hiding after armed men attempted to arrest him at his campaign headquarters. Despite the military takeover, he expressed confidence in his electoral victory.

Domingos Simoes Pereira, another leading opposition figure whose candidacy was barred by the Supreme Court, also supported Dias following his disqualification. Pereira was reportedly arrested by the military on Wednesday.

The situation in Guinea-Bissau remains tense as the international community monitors the political crisis, with uncertainty over the country’s leadership and the legitimacy of the recent elections.