Gunshots heard near presidential palace in Guinea-Bissau 3 days after national election

Military officers on Wednesday claimed to have taken “total control” of Guinea-Bissau in a potential coup, as the country awaits the results of national elections.

In a statement read at the headquarters of the army general staff, the officers said they had suspended the electoral process and closed the borders.

Earlier in the day, gunshots were heard near the presidential palace in Guinea-Bissau’s capital.

Roads leading to the palace were closed off, with checkpoints manned by heavily armed and masked soldiers.

Incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embaló told Jeune Afrique media he had been arrested on Wednesday while in his office.

He described the day’s events as a coup.

Guinea-Bissau’s presidential and legislative elections were held on Sunday. Embaló and opposition candidate Fernando Dias da Costa both claimed victory but official provisional results were not expected until Thursday.

Wednesday’s events come less than a month after senior army officers were arrested for allegedly planning a coup.