A coup in Guinea-Bissau: The army seizes control of the country and arrests President Umaro Sissoco Embaló.

The army in Guinea-Bissau declared it had taken full control of the country, hours after President Umaro Sissoco Embaló was detained by armed men in the capital, Bissau.

Guinea-Bissau entered a new phase of uncertainty on Wednesday after the army announced it had seized complete control of the country.

Gunfire was heard in several neighborhoods as troops moved in to consolidate their control, in the latest outbreak of violence in a long history of political instability in the West African nation.

At midday, senior officers appeared on national television to announce they had detained the president, suspended the electoral process, and ordered the immediate closure of all land, air, and sea borders “until stability is restored.”

Authorities provided no information about Embaló’s condition or whereabouts, nor did they disclose whether any government ministers, election officials, or military commanders loyal to him had been arrested.

The statement, delivered by a spokesperson surrounded by soldiers, accused the civilian leadership of “endangering national cohesion” and attempting to “manipulate state institutions for personal gain.”

No evidence has been presented to support these accusations, and the officers have not indicated whether they intend to form a transitional authority.

This dramatic turn of events follows a tense presidential election held just days earlier, in which Embaló sought a new term, while his main rival, Fernando Dias, alleged widespread irregularities.

The electoral commission's decision to bar the largest opposition coalition from participating has sparked outrage among civil society groups and raised concerns among regional observers about the credibility of the vote.

Both Embaló and Dias had declared victory before the military's intervention.

Gunfire that erupted in Bissau early this morning sent residents scrambling for safety, with many sheltering indoors amid rumors that rival military factions might be clashing.

Local media reported that parts of the capital remained tense, with armed patrols controlling key intersections and roadblocks erected near government buildings.

This crisis represents yet another setback for a nation that has experienced repeated coups, coup attempts, and political assassinations since its independence in 1974.

This is the ninth coup or coup attempt in Guinea-Bissau since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974. The two most recent coup attempts, in 2022 and 2023, also targeted Embaló, while there were also allegations of a coup plot in late October 2025.

Embaló himself survived at least one coup attempt in 2022, during which he accused unnamed political figures of collaborating with criminal networks.

Regional blocs, including the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU), have not yet issued official statements on the evolving situation, although diplomats say they are closely monitoring developments.

Instability in Guinea-Bissau has long been a concern for West African leaders, particularly given the country's vulnerability to organized crime and its role as a transit hub for drug trafficking.

Currently, communication remains fragmented, movement within and outside the country is restricted, and uncertainty continues to surround Guinea-Bissau's political future.