AU, ECOWAS, UN Leaders Condemn Attempted Coup in Guinea-Bissau

The West African regional bloc, Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS), the African Union (AU) and The United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres have expressed dissatisfaction on the suspected ‘attempted coup’ in Guinea-Bissau.

Yesterday, heavy gunfire was heard near a government compound where the country’s president, Umaro Sissoco Embalo, had been presiding a cabinet meeting.

Videos of armed men with automatic rifles and rocket-propelled grenades were shared on social media, and the state broadcaster reported that “invaders” were seizing government officials.

“ECOWAS is following with great concern the evolution of the situation in Guinea-Bissau … where military gunfire is taking place around the Government Palace,” said the organisation.

Antonio Guterres is “deeply concerned” by the reports from Guinea-Bissau, a spokesman affirmed.

Embalo and cabinet members were in the compound, surrounded by the military, according to three sources – one diplomatic, one security and one police.

But, social media posts from accounts linked to Sissoco Embalo said yesterday the situation in the West African country was under government control and calm had returned to the capital, Bissau.

“Calm returns to Bissau!” said a post on Embalo’s official Facebook page. It accompanied some undated photos of Embalo seated in an armchair, in conversation with military officers in uniform.

The president and ministers’ exact state was unclear as at the time of making this report.

Political instability has blighted Guinea-Bissau for years, with nine coups or attempted coups since independence from Portugal in 1974.

The Portuguese embassy advice its citizens in Guinea-Bissau to remain at home.

A security source with contacts inside the Government Palace said an unknown number of people had been hit by gunfire. A second source disclosed that two people were dead, but they were yet to be identified.

Regular busy streets around the Government Palace were empty yesterday afternoon, a civil society activist stated. An unverified video shared on social media appeared to show a man standing outside the compound firing a rocket-propelled grenade.

Members of government did not answer telephone calls from Reuters seeking verification of what was happening.

Sissoco Embalo had begun presiding over an extraordinary cabinet meeting at around 10 a.m., entering the building with a heavy security detail, a diplomatic source disclosed.