LIVE: Military officers seize control in Guinea-Bissau following disputed presidential election
A group of military officers in Guinea-Bissau has declared “total control” of the country, days after a closely contested presidential election.
In a statement released on Wednesday, November 26, the officers announced the immediate suspension of the electoral process. They also ordered the closure of all land, air, and sea borders, along with the imposition of an overnight curfew “until further notice.”
This development followed reports of sustained gunfire near several government sites in the capital, Bissau. Areas affected included the election commission headquarters, the presidential palace, and the interior ministry.
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“There were some shootings... I could hear them from my home in the city centre,” a resident told Global South World.
The presidential vote, held on November 23, was expected to have its results announced on November 27. The election featured incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embalo and his main rival, Fernando Dias.
Both candidates declared victory on Monday, each claiming to have secured over half of the votes, despite the absence of official results. Embalo, 53, was seeking re-election to become the first president in thirty years to win a second consecutive term.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
