President Umaro Sissoco Embalo of Guinea-Bissau said on Wednesday that he had been deposed after military officers stormed the presidential palace, claiming “total control” of the country.
Speaking to France 24, Embalo described the events as a coup led by the army chief of staff, although he said no violence was committed against him.
Earlier, gunfire was reported near the presidential palace, according to an AFP journalist.
Embalo told Jeune Afrique that men in uniform had entered his office and detained several top officials.
The military officials include the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, General Biague Na Ntan, Deputy Chief of Staff General Mamadou Toure, and Interior Minister Botche Cande.
The military announced that all state institutions were suspended “until further notice,” citing the need to clarify the situation before returning to constitutional order.
The move comes just three days after presidential and legislative elections, in which both major candidates claimed victory, adding to the political uncertainty in the country.
West Africa has faced a wave of military interventions in recent years, as longstanding democratic norms have been repeatedly challenged by coups.
Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have all experienced recent takeovers, with juntas citing government corruption, insecurity, and mismanagement as justification for seizing power.
In Mali, the 2021 and 2022 coups toppled elected leaders, while Niger’s military ousted President Mohamed Bazoum in 2023.
These developments reflect growing instability in the region, where fragile institutions, ethnic tensions, and extremist threats have created an environment in which armed forces increasingly assert themselves as arbiters of political authority.
Guinea-Bissau’s unfolding crisis now adds to this pattern, raising concerns about the durability of civilian governance in West Africa.