The Military Council in Guinea-Bissau Appoints General Horta N'Tam as Head of Government

The high military leadership in Guinea-Bissau announced today, Thursday, the appointment of a new leader for the military council in the country, reinforcing the power grab that began following disputed presidential elections, which the main opposition candidate described as a ruse to prevent him from taking office.

A statement broadcast by the official television in Guinea-Bissau reported that military leaders appointed General Horta N'Tam as head of the military government, which will oversee a one-year transitional period.

Guinea-Bissau is one of the poorest countries in the world, having been ravaged by coups and attempted coups since gaining independence from Portugal over 50 years ago, including an attempted coup that occurred last October.

This country, with a population of 2.2 million, is known as a hub for drug trafficking between Latin America and Europe, a phenomenon that experts say has fueled its political crises.

General Horta N'Tam, who was the chief of staff of the army until the coup and a close ally of the ousted president Umaro Sissoco Embaló, stated: "The failure of political actors to halt the deterioration of the political climate ultimately led the armed forces to intervene."

The whereabouts of Embaló remain unknown as of Thursday.

Embaló told French media on Wednesday that he was arrested by soldiers while gunfire echoed near the presidential palace.

Moussa Faki Mahamat, the chairperson of the African Union Commission, condemned the coup, calling for respect for the electoral process and the unconditional release of President Embaló and other detained officials.

Faki stated in a statement that the African Union is ready to work with partners to restore stability and protect the democratic process.

South Africa also joined other African nations in condemning the coup, calling for the "immediate restoration of democracy and the completion of the electoral process."

France also called for respect for the constitutional order and democracy in the country.

Meanwhile, the opposition accused Embaló of orchestrating the coup to avoid defeat in the presidential elections held last Sunday, which had close results.

His rival, Fernando Dias, who claimed, like Embaló, to have won the elections, stated that the military coup and the alleged arrest of Embaló were orchestrated to disrupt the election results that were expected to be announced today, Thursday.

The Associated Press (AP) was unable to verify Dias's claims from independent sources, as he is a member of the Social Renewal Party.