Guinea-Bissau was thrown into turmoil on Wednesday after President Umaro Sissoco Embaló was reportedly arrested by armed men, just days after a disputed national election in which the main opposition party was barred from participating. Heavy gunfire was heard in the capital, Bissau, as tension escalated across the city.
The dramatic development comes amid competing claims of victory from both Embaló and his challenger, Fernando Dias, deepening uncertainty in the West African nation. The circumstances surrounding the president’s arrest remain unclear, and it is not yet known which faction is responsible or where Embaló is being held.
The disputed election has already drawn criticism from political observers and civil society groups, who warned that excluding the main opposition could spark instability. Dias, who challenged Embaló in the vote, declared himself the rightful winner shortly after polls closed, while Embaló insisted he had secured a legitimate mandate.
Residents reported hearing bursts of gunfire near key government installations as tensions rose, and fears of further unrest are mounting. Regional bodies and international partners are expected to respond as the situation develops.
