Accra:The military in Guinea-Bissau has declared General Horta Inta-A as the new transitional president following a coup, according to an announcement made on Thursday. This move comes in the wake of recent presidential elections, the results of which remain unpublished. The state broadcaster TGB confirmed that General Inta-A will hold the position for a one-year transitional period.
According to Ghana News Agency, the situation in the capital city of Bissau is tense, with eyewitnesses reporting deserted streets and the presence of soldiers at strategic points throughout the city. The military claims that the coup was necessary after uncovering a plot to rig the elections and destabilize the nation, allegedly involving several politicians and a drug lord. The country, which has a population of approximately 2.2 million, is a significant hub for cocaine trafficking between Latin America and Europe.
Deposed President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, who had been in power since 2020, reportedly told a French media outl
et that he was detained by the military but remained unharmed. Embalós political challenger, Fernando Dias, has also been detained. Both Embaló and Dias had previously declared victory in the elections held on Sunday.
Guinea-Bissau has a long history of political instability, marked by numerous coups and coup attempts since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974. The military has had a strong influence on the countrys politics. Embaló, a former general, had dissolved the parliament at the end of 2023 and frequently spoke of coup threats against him, the most recent being in October. Critics have accused him of suppressing opposition figures, journalists, and human rights activists. The main opposition party was barred from the election process and had backed independent candidate Dias.