Guinea-Bissau soldiers say they have taken power after reports of president's arrest

[muriel_volestrangler]

A group of military officers say they have seized control of Guinea-Bissau amid reports that the president, Umaro Sissoco Embaló, has been arrested.

Shortly after gunshots were heard in capital city Bissau, government sources told the BBC that Embaló had been detained.

The reports come three days after a presidential election in which the main opposition candidate was disqualified.

The results were expected on Thursday - both Embaló and his closest rival Fernando Dias have claimed victory.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0edww3qgq2o

Don't know what to think of this - with an opposition candidate disqualified, and 2 candidates claiming victory, it's possible that the officers could have done this to get a fair election. Or they could just be taking advantage of chaos for their own benefit.

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. General named new Guinea-Bissau leader a day after coup

Gen Horta N'Tam becomes the transitional president for a period of one year. He took the oath on Thursday, in brief and muted proceedings in the army headquarters.

The military had already suspended the electoral process and blocked the release of the results of Sunday's presidential election which were expected on Thursday.

Some civil society groups in Guinea-Bissau have accused outgoing President Umaro Sissoco Embaló of masterminding a "simulated coup" against himself with the help of the military, saying it was a ruse to block election results from coming out in case he loses.

"This manoeuvre aims to prevent the publication of the electoral results scheduled for tomorrow, November 27," the civil society coalition Popular Front said in a statement on Wednesday.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg164nvj77o