President of Guinea-Bissau reported his arrest due to a coup

A coup d'état is taking place in Guinea-Bissau, the country's president Umaro Sissoco Embaló has been detained by the military.

As reported by BAKU.WS, this information was disseminated by the publication Jeune Afrique. The president himself called the editorial office and reported this.

According to him, the coup was organized by the Chief of the Army General Staff. Sissoco Embaló's arrest took place in his office at the presidential palace around 1:00 PM local time (5:00 PM Baku time - ed.).

As previously reported by Agence France-Presse (AFP), gunfire was heard near the presidential palace in Guinea-Bissau. According to the data, people in military uniform took control of the main road leading to the palace, located in the country's capital, Bissau. Social media posts in the country claim that the shooting began around 1:25 PM local time (5:25 PM Baku time). It is continuous and intense in nature.

In turn, Reuters agency, citing eyewitnesses, reports shooting near the building of the National Electoral Commission. The situation remains uncertain. Both buildings are located in the administrative district of the capital Bissau at a distance of about 1 km from each other.

The Electoral Commission is counting votes from the presidential and parliamentary elections held in the country on November 23. The first official preliminary results of the presidential election are to be announced on November 28. Twelve candidates participated in the election, including Umaro Sissoco Embaló. The day before, Fernando Dias da Costa, a candidate from one of the opposition groups, declared his victory in the presidential election.