After Bangladesh, there was a coup in another Muslim majority country. In the West African country Guinea-Bissau, the army stormed the Parliament and arrested the President. With this the army has taken over power. A faction of the army declared itself to be in complete control of the country’s power. The country’s politics was already heated with election controversies and meanwhile firing, smoke, panic and suddenly imposed curfew made the situation more dangerous.
The biggest shock came when the news came that President Umaro Sissoko Embalo had been arrested by the army. That is, the country where religions, communities and ethnic groups live together, has once again come under the boot of the army. About 45–50% of the Muslim population lives in Guinea-Bissau. Whereas 20–22% Christians and about 30% Africans and people of other traditional religions live there. The identity of the country is secular and mixed. But political instability has kept it unsafe for years. Since independence from Portugal in 1974, there have been several coups.
The gunpowder exploded even before the election results.
Presidential elections were held in the country on Sunday. The results were to be declared on Thursday, but even before that the atmosphere became poisonous. Both the top candidates, current President Embalo and his main rival Fernando Dias, declared themselves winners without any evidence. The opposition and civil society were already raising questions on the integrity of the elections, because the country’s oldest political party, PAIGC, was barred from fielding candidates. That is, tension was increasing and the army took advantage of that opportunity and stepped forward.
Army’s announcement – We have complete control over the country
On Wednesday afternoon, the sounds of gunfire suddenly increased in Bissau, the capital of Guinea-Bissau. The sounds of firing were heard simultaneously around the Election Commission office, Rashtrapati Bhavan and Home Ministry. After some time a group of army officers appeared on TV. He told himself that the army has taken command to restore order. These officers made three big announcements. The electoral process is suspended until further orders. All land, air and sea borders of the country are closed. Night curfew implemented immediately. This was actually a direct declaration of seizing power.
President and opposition leader both arrested
Al Jazeera confirmed that the military had arrested President Embalo. Not only this, the main opposition leader Domingos Simões Pereira was also taken into custody. Efforts to shut down the internet in the country also started. The most shocking thing was that the officer leading the coup, Denis N’Kana, was the same person who was the President’s security chief. That means the President was caught by the same person who was given the responsibility of his security.
Why did the army seize power?
According to experts, this coup is the result of political anarchy and election disputes. The election was not being said to be transparent. Both the candidates had already claimed victory. The opposition had already erupted and PAIGC was not allowed to contest the elections. That means who is the winner once again in the country? A crisis had arisen. The army took action at this very moment. The thing to note is that the same thing happened in the 2019 elections also. Even then both the big candidates had declared themselves winners and the political crisis continued for four months.
