Developments in Guinea-Bissau: A general is president and the opposition denounces a coup

Stopping the electoral process

Analysts interviewed by AFP and representatives of the deployment expressed their doubts about the validity of the scenario proposed by the coup leaders, noting that stopping the electoral process is in the interest of the Embalo camp.

A state of paralysis prevailed on Thursday in the capital, Bissau, as most shops and markets were closed, according to Agence France-Presse correspondents. The streets witnessed an intense security deployment and appeared almost deserted.

Intense gunfire

Soldiers on duty are carrying out patrols throughout the area surrounding the presidential palace, where heavy gunfire sparked a state of panic among the residents at noon the previous day with the start of the coup.

Tight security measures

General Horta Ntam said Thursday after being sworn in as interim president at the army headquarters: "I was just appointed to be at the helm of senior leadership"

Agence France-Presse correspondents reported that strict security measures were taken around the Chief of Staff.

General Thiam, who is the commander of the ground forces, was seen as close to outgoing President Oumar Sissoko Embalo, who has been detained since the coup was carried out on Wednesday.

Difficult times

Thiam said in front of dozens of heavily armed soldiers: "Guinea Bissau is going through difficult times in its history. The measures imposed are urgent and important and require everyone’s participation"

On the other hand, the opposition leader in Guinea-Bissau, Fernando Dias, confirmed on Thursday his victory in the presidential elections, accusing outgoing President Omar Sissoko Embalo of orchestrating the coup carried out by the army on Wednesday.

Dias, who claims that the goal of the coup was to prevent him from coming to power, added: "There is no coup in Guinea Bissau". In a phone call, Dias confirmed that "Safely" He is hiding inside the country.

Night curfew

And Wednesday, said General Dennis Nkanha, commander of the military force attached to the presidency, as he sat behind a table surrounded by armed personnel at the General Staff headquarters. "What prompted us to do this (the coup) was to ensure security at the national level and also to restore order"pointing to the discovery "General Intelligence developed a plan to destabilize the country with the participation of local drug traffickers".

In the evening, the army announced a ban "Any demonstration, march, strike, or action that would undermine peace and stability" The day after the military coup.

Relative stability

The night curfew that was imposed the previous day was lifted, in another indication of relative stability despite the coup, following the announcement on the same day of the reopening of… "All border points have been closed since Wednesday afternoon"

He also ordered the immediate reopening of schools, markets and private institutions, and reassured citizens that President Embalo and former army chief Bayage Na Tam, who was arrested on Wednesday, "In good health"according to the statement.

Also, the Supreme Council of the Army appointed a new commander of the armed forces on Thursday, namely General Thomas Jassy, ​​former chief of staff under President Embalo.

Later Thursday, the Senegalese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Embalo had arrived in Senegal. "Safe and sound"

Guinea Bissau, a very poor country with a population of 2.2 million people, suffers from chronic corruption and is a transit point for drug trafficking between South America and Europe.

Repositioning

A researcher from West Africa told AFP on Thursday, requesting anonymity. "I doubt the veracity of the claims made by the military high command to restore order"

This coup occurred a day before the expected announcement of the preliminary results of the presidential and legislative elections held on November 23.

The researcher considered that "This coup aims to prevent opposition candidate Fernando Dias from assuming power". and"This is the ideal scenario for Embalo, who may be released after negotiations and perhaps reposition himself in the next elections"

Presidential elections

The main opposition leader in Guinea Bissau, Domingos Simões Pereira, president, was also arrested on Wednesday. "African Party for the Independence of Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde"The African Union, the historic party that led Guinea-Bissau to independence, was prevented from participating in the presidential elections held on Sunday before supporting Dias, according to his relatives and one of his aides.

The African Union condemned the coup on Thursday, demanding the immediate and unconditional release of Embalo.

The European Union called on Thursday for "Return to constitutional order" in Guinea-Bissau as soon as possible, as well as resuming the electoral process following the military coup in the country.