A group of military officers in Guinea-Bissau declared on Wednesday that they had seized “total control” of the country, suspending the ongoing electoral process and closing all borders just days after national elections were held.
The announcement was made at army headquarters in the capital, Bissau, where uniformed personnel read a statement confirming the takeover in the presence of international media.
Earlier in the day, heavy gunfire was reported near the presidential palace, with armed soldiers blocking access to key government buildings and controlling major roads in the area.
The military’s move comes amid a tense political climate in the coup-prone West African nation, which held presidential and legislative elections less than 72 hours earlier. Preliminary results from the vote had not yet been announced.
International observers and regional bodies are closely monitoring the situation as details continue to unfold.
