Guinea-Bissau’s Ousted President Embaló Flees To Senegal After Coup

Guinea-Bissau’s ousted President Umaro Sissoco Embaló has gone into exile in neighbouring Senegal after being released by the military, which overthrew his government this week.

This followed negotiations led by the regional bloc Ecowas as tensions rose in Guinea-Bissau.

Senegal’s foreign ministry confirmed that Embaló arrived “safe and sound” late on Thursday aboard a chartered military flight.

The military has already installed a transitional leader, Gen Horta N’Tam, who will govern for one year.

The coup happened a day before the provisional results of the presidential and parliamentary elections were due to be announced.

The military has since suspended the electoral process and blocked the release of the results.

Soldiers claimed they acted to prevent a plot involving unnamed politicians and a “well-known drug baron” aimed at destabilising the country, and they imposed a night-time curfew.

Both Embaló and his main rival, Fernando Dias, had claimed victory in Sunday’s presidential election.

Dias had the backing of former Prime Minister Domingos Pereira, who was barred from contesting.

The junta has banned protests and all activities it says could “disturb peace and stability”. Tensions remained high in Bissau on Thursday, with shops and markets closed as soldiers patrolled the streets, according to AFP.

Earlier in the day, Gen N’Tam, the army chief of staff, was sworn in as the transitional president. He said the military acted “to block operations that aimed to threaten our democracy”. Soon after, land, air and sea borders were reopened.

Some civil society groups have accused Embaló of staging a “simulated coup” with the military to stop election results from being released in case he lost.

Dias has echoed those claims, calling it an “organised coup” and insisting he won about 52% of the vote.

Ecowas has suspended Guinea-Bissau from all its decision-making bodies until constitutional order is restored.

The bloc also demanded that the military return to the barracks, calling the coup a “grave violation” of democratic norms.

The African Union has likewise condemned the takeover and urged respect for constitutional rule.

More: BBC News