Days of power struggle in West Africa’s Guinea-Bissau ended with a military coup after soldiers announced a new junta leader on Thursday.
The military high command inaugurated Gen Horta Inta-A as the head of the military government, which will oversee a one-year transition period, according to a declaration broadcast on state television.
“The inability of political actors to stem the deterioration of the political climate ultimately prompted the intervention of the armed forces,” said Inta-A, who was the army chief of staff until the coup and a close ally of deposed President Umaro Sissoco Embalo.
The forceful takeover had begun after a disputed presidential election in one of the world’s poorest countries that’s been dogged by coups and attempted coups since its independence from Portugal more than 50 years ago, with its most recent coup attempt taking place in October.
The country of 2.2 million people is known as a hub for drug trafficking between Latin America and Europe, a trend that experts say has fuelled its political crises.
Meanwhile, Embalo’s whereabouts remained unknown Thursday after he told French media on Wednesday that he was arrested by soldiers as gunshots rang out near the presidential palace.
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The military takeover has been condemned the world over, with the chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, calling for the respect of the electoral process and for the unconditional release of President Embalo and other detained officials.
In a statement, Youssouf said the AU was ready to work with partners to restore stability and safeguard the democratic process.
South Africa and France, too, joined other African countries in condemning the coup and called for the immediate restoration of democracy and completion of the electoral process.
Curiously, the opposition, especially Embalo’s rival, Fernando Dias, alleged Embalo had “fabricated” the coup to avoid an election defeat in Sunday’s closely contested presidential vote.
The opposition, African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde, along with Dias, asked residents to stage protests against the coup and demand publication of the election results.
But, activities appeared to be normal in the capital Bissau, with businesses and public transport gradually picking up.
Presidential and legislative elections were held at a critical time for the African country as Embalo, a 53-year-old former army general, faced a legitimacy crisis with the opposition saying his tenure had long expired.
Dias, 47, said in a video statement that he escaped custody “through a back door” after reports said he was arrested by soldiers.
“Umaro lost the elections, and instead of accepting the result, he fabricated a coup d’etat,” Dias said, vowing to fight back, and added: “Once again, we, we have been the target of a false coup d’etat... We will liberate ourselves.”
The military officers who announced they had deposed the president cited the “discovery of an ongoing plan ... to manipulate electoral results,” according to a spokesperson, Dinis N’Tchama, who was flanked by others during the televised statement.
The “scheme was set up by some national politicians with the participation of a well-known drug lord, and domestic and foreign nationals,” N’Tchama said.
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