Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Henry Owen
Guinea-Bissau was thrust into fresh political turmoil on Wednesday after heavy gunfire echoed across the capital, Bissau, amid widespread reports that President Umaro Sissoco Embaló had been arrested by armed men. The incident deepens an already tense atmosphere just days after a highly disputed election that excluded major opposition figures from contesting.
Witnesses reported scenes of panic as sustained shooting erupted around the presidential palace, forcing residents to flee for safety while security forces scrambled to regain control. An AFP journalist in the city confirmed “intense shooting” in the vicinity of key government buildings, raising fears of another attempted power shift in the coup-prone nation.
The political crisis escalated rapidly after both Embaló and his challenger, Fernando Dias, declared themselves winners of Sunday’s presidential and legislative polls. The barring of main opposition candidates had already drawn concerns from international observers, who warned that the credibility of the election was severely undermined.
With reports of Embaló’s detention spreading across the country, Guinea-Bissau now faces a dangerous power vacuum. The atmosphere remains volatile, and uncertainty continues to grip a nation long struggling with instability, contested elections, and repeated attempts to upend democratic order.
Authorities have yet to issue an official statement, leaving citizens and the international community anxious for clarity as the situation unfolds.
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