Military Coup in Guinea-Bissau on the Eve of the Announcement of Preliminary Presidential Election Results

On the eve of the announcement of the preliminary results of the presidential elections held on Sunday, military personnel announced on Wednesday their "complete control" over Guinea-Bissau, and the "suspension of the electoral process" as well as the closure of all border points in the country.

Witnesses and media sources had earlier reported hearing gunfire near the presidential palace and the headquarters of the National Election Commission in the capital.

Guinea-Bissau has a history of coups.

Military personnel in Guinea-Bissau stated on Wednesday that they had taken full control of the country and announced the "suspension of the electoral process" and the closure of all border points, according to Agence France-Presse.

Local residents and journalists reported gunfire on Wednesday near the presidential palace and in front of the National Election Commission headquarters in the capital of Guinea-Bissau.

According to the same sources, some passersby were seen fleeing in search of shelter in front of the presidential palace and the election commission as gunfire continued around 1:00 PM GMT.

The West African nation held presidential elections last Sunday, with preliminary results expected to be announced on Thursday.

Current President Umaro Sissoco Embaló is competing against his main rival Fernando Dias. It remains unclear who is behind the gunfire so far.

Antonio Yaya Sidi, spokesperson for Embaló, stated that unidentified gunmen attacked the election commission to prevent the announcement of the voting results.

He added that the gunmen are supporters of Dias, but he did not provide evidence for this claim.

The small coastal nation located between Senegal and Guinea has witnessed at least nine coups between 1974, when it gained independence from Portugal, and 2020, when Embaló took office.