President of Guinea-Bissau Umaro Sissoco PackedAn attack on a police station in the nation’s capital by the Army National Guard to free a minister and another senior official detained for alleged corruption has been described as a coup attempt.
“This is a coup attempt and will have serious consequences for those involved.”Embaló told local media this Saturday night after landing in the country on his way back from Dubai, where he spoke at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28):
President assured National Guard Commander Colonel Victor Tchongo, One of the military commanders detained this Friday in connection with the incident acted “on someone’s orders”.
Likewise, Embaló announced the establishment of a commission of inquiry to clarify the events that shook Bissau, the capital of this small country, this week. West Africa.
Early this Friday, a violent clash broke out in the city against the special forces of the Bisauguinean Army. National Guard They attacked the Judicial Police headquarters near the Bandim market to release Minister of Economy and Finance Suleiman Seidi and Secretary of State for the Treasury António Monteiro.
Both government officials were questioned and detained this Thursday. It was alleged that the companies were paid the equivalent of a total of ten million dollars.
As confirmed by a source Armed Forces General Staff According to local media reports, Seidi and Monteiro were later found on the premises of the National Guard barracks and were “safely” transported to the Judicial Police headquarters.
Calm had returned to Bissau this Friday, but it was visible high presence of agents patrolling the streets, Uncertainty about what happened continues.
Economic Community of West African States (cedeao) in a statement this Saturday condemned “the violence in Guinea-Bissau and any attempt to alter the constitutional order and the rule of law.”
This country is bankrupt political instability It has experienced multiple military uprisings since 2015 and has suffered four successful coups since independence from Portugal (declared in 1973 and recognized in 1974).
The last failed attempt occurred on February 1, 2022. While an extraordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers was being held with the participation of the president and prime minister, a group of armed men in civilian clothes surrounded the presidential palace.