Troopers in Guinea-Bissau announce takeover : NPR

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TGB Guinea-Bissau/AP BISSAU, Guinea-Bissau — Troopers in Guinea-Bissau appeared on state tv Wednesday saying they've seized energy within the nation, following studies of gunshots close to the presidential palace, three days after nationwide elections. The president advised French media he had been deposed and arrested.

It was the most recent of a number of coups lately in West Africa.

"The Excessive Army Command for the reestablishment of nationwide and public order decides to right away depose the president of the republic, to droop, till new orders, the entire establishments of the republic of Guinea-Bissau," spokesperson Dinis N'Tchama stated in an announcement.

He stated they acted in response to the "discovery of an ongoing plan" that he stated aimed to destabilize the nation by making an attempt to "manipulate electoral outcomes."

The "scheme was arrange by some nationwide politicians with the participation of a widely known drug lord, and home and international nationals," N'Tchama asserted, and gave no particulars.

The troopers stated they had been instantly suspending the electoral course of and the actions of media shops, in addition to closing all borders.

Guinea-Bissau has seen 4 coups and quite a few tried ones since independence, together with one reported final month. The nation additionally has emerged as a hub for drug trafficking between Latin America and Europe.

The presidential and legislative elections had been held Sunday. Incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and opposition candidate Fernando Dias da Costa every claimed victory Tuesday, despite the fact that official provisional outcomes weren't anticipated till Thursday.

How the coup unfolded Gunfire was heard noon Wednesday close to the presidential palace. An Related Press journalist noticed roads resulting in the palace closed off, with checkpoints manned by closely armed and masked troopers.

An official from the presidential palace stated a gaggle of armed males tried to assault the constructing, resulting in an alternate of gunfire with guards. One other official from the Inside Ministry stated in addition they heard gunshots close to the Nationwide Electoral Fee close by. The 2 spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of they weren't allowed to talk publicly on the matter.

A key member of a world election observer group stated the election fee chief was arrested and the fee workplace was sealed off by the army.

"The president has been talking to folks saying he is being held by the army," the observer group staffer advised the AP. They spoke on situation of anonymity as they weren't allowed to talk publicly on the matter.

French information outlet Jeune Afrique quoted Embaló as saying he was arrested in what he known as a coup led by the military chief of employees. He stated he was not subjected to violence.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3120x2080+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F6d%2F44%2F8642a19f47ed98bd71066f62550f%2Fap25330575658330.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3120x2080+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F6d%2F44%2F8642a19f47ed98bd71066f62550f%2Fap25330575658330.jpg" class="img" alt="People walk on the street in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, Wednesday." loading="lazy"/> Folks stroll on the road in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, Wednesday. Darcicio Barbosa/AP disguise caption

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Darcicio Barbosa/AP "I've been deposed," Embaló advised French tv community France 24.

Embaló had confronted a legitimacy disaster, with the opposition saying his tenure had lengthy expired and that they didn't acknowledge him as president.

Guinea-Bissau's structure units the presidential time period at 5 years. Embaló first got here to energy in February 2020. The opposition says his time period ought to have ended on Feb. 27 of this yr, however the Supreme Courtroom dominated it ought to run till Sept. 4.

The presidential election, nonetheless, was delayed till this month.

Our bodies demand return to constitutional rule A U.N. official stated Wednesday that the world physique was following the scenario in Guinea-Bissau "with deep concern."

U.N. Secretary Basic António Guterres "appeals to all nationwide stakeholders in Guinea-Bissau to train restraint and respect the rule of legislation," Stéphane Dujarric, his spokesperson, advised reporters.

In a joint assertion, the election statement missions of the African Union and of the regional bloc often known as ECOWAS, denounced a "blatant try to disrupt the democratic course of" and known as for a return to the "constitutional order."

It additionally urged the speedy launch of detained election officers.

The civil society coalition Fashionable Entrance accused Embaló and the military of staging a "simulated coup" to dam the discharge of election outcomes and cling on to energy.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/2362x1574+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F22%2Fe6%2F2a63820c4beb9976bfa5628bd8fc%2Fap25330575778441.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/2362x1574+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F22%2Fe6%2F2a63820c4beb9976bfa5628bd8fc%2Fap25330575778441.jpg" class="img" alt="Cars drive on the street in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, Wednesday." loading="lazy"/> Automobiles drive on the road in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, Wednesday. Darcicio Barbosa/AP disguise caption

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Darcicio Barbosa/AP "This maneuver goals to stop the publication of the electoral outcomes scheduled for tomorrow, Nov. 27," the group stated in an announcement on Wednesday. It claimed that Embaló plans to call a brand new president and interim prime minister, then name contemporary elections wherein he intends to run once more.

West Africa has seen a wave of coups since 2020. Three landlocked nations within the area, Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, at the moment are dominated by army leaders who've taken energy by power, on the pledge of offering extra safety to residents in opposition to an insurgency by armed teams.

In neighboring Guinea, Gen. Mamadi Doumbouya, the junta chief, overthrew the president in 2021, chastising the earlier authorities for breaking guarantees whereas promising to rid the nation of dangerous governance and corruption.

In Gabon, mutinous troopers took energy in 2023, shortly after the president was declared the winner of the election from which worldwide observers, for the primary time, had been barred. In April, coup chief Gen. Brice Oligui Nguema was elected president.