Guinea-Bissau: the military announce a supreme command to run the country
The military who seized power in Guinea-Bissau following a coup d’état have announced the creation of the Supreme Military Command responsible for restoring order, which becomes the country’s supreme governing body. The announcement was made by Brigadier General Denis N’Canha during an address broadcast on national television.
According to him, this command will govern the country until further notice. The identity of the person who will lead it has not yet been specified.
The military have already suspended all civilian institutions, closed the country’s external borders, imposed a nighttime curfew, halted media activities and suspended the counting of votes from the presidential and legislative elections of 23 November. The electoral commission had planned to announce the results on 28 November.
The President of Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embalo, who was seeking a second term, was arrested midday by the military in his office at the presidential palace. He told several media outlets by phone that no violence had been used against him. Also arrested were the chief of staff, General Biague Na Ntan, the deputy chief of staff, General Mamadou Touré, and the Minister of the Interior and Public Order, Botché Candé.
The newspaper Jeune Afrique reports that the leader of the main opposition party, the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), Domingos Simoes Pereira, as well as the party’s candidate in the presidential election, Fernando Dias da Costa, have also been arrested. Their whereabouts remain unknown.
Before the military takeover, General Denis N’Canha headed the presidential military office, responsible for the personal security of the head of state.
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