Report has it that the Guinea-Bissau’s President Umaro Sissoco Embaló has been arrested by armed men just days after a disputed election in which the main opposition was barred.
According BBC Africa on its social media platform reported that gunfire was heard in the capital as both Embaló and challenger Fernando Dias claimed victory.
In the midst of this conflict the BBC further reported that the Guinea-Bissau’s military says it has taken full control of the country after detaining President Umaro Sissoco Embaló.
Adding that they’ve suspended the electoral process and closed all borders indefinitely while BBC Africa further said It’s still unclear whether anyone else was detained along with the president.
Al Jazeera also reported that the results of Sunday’s presidential vote had been expected to be announced on Thursday in this West African nation.
Adding that the vote pitted President Umaro Sissoco Embalo against his primary challenger, Fernando Dias.
“We have confirmation that the president is under arrest,” Al Jazeera’s Nicolas Haque reported from neighbouring Senegal on Wednesday afternoon.
The head of the main opposition PAIGC party, Domingos Simoes Pereira, has also been arrested, Haque said. “As well, we’ve just heard that the military is trying to cut off the Internet. There’s a curfew in place.”
He added that the army officer leading the coup, Denis N’Canha, served as the head of the presidential guard. “The man supposed to protect the president himself has put the president under arrest,” Haque said.
