Guinea-Bissau has plunged into political turmoil after army officers ousted President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, one day before provisional election results were expected. On Thursday, General Horta Nta Na Man, the country’s former chief of staff, was sworn in as transitional president at a ceremony at the military headquarters.
Describing the coup as justified, Nta Na Man called for urgent measures and participation from all sectors. The military, calling itself the “High Military Command for the Restoration of Order,” has taken control amid a tense standoff in the capital, Bissau, where streets remained quiet and many residents stayed indoors even after curfew restrictions lifted.
The African Union Commission, led by Chairperson H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, condemned the military takeover and called for the immediate release of Embaló and other detained officials, stressing the importance of respecting Guinea-Bissau’s electoral process and constitutional order.
The political future of the West African nation remains uncertain, with questions now raised about when, or if, elections will proceed, and the new leadership appears to hold the backing of the country’s military elite.
