Gunfire and clashes erupted in the capital of Guinea-Bissau, leading President Umaro Sissoco Embalo to describe the events as an “attempted coup”. The clashes, between the National Guard and special forces of the presidential guard, broke out on Thursday night and continued into Friday after two senior government officials were freed from custody. At least two people were reported dead in the unrest. President Embalo, attending the COP28 climate conference in Dubai, was prevented from returning to Guinea-Bissau due to the attempted coup. The Army later announced the capture of the National Guard commander, Colonel Victor Tchongo, and security presence was reduced in Bissau on Saturday.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) condemned the violence and urged for the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators. The regional bloc also expressed solidarity with the people and constitutional authorities of Guinea-Bissau. United Nations chief Antonio Guterres called for calm and urged security forces and the army not to interfere in national politics.
Members of the National Guard stormed a police station to free Finance Minister Souleiman Seidi and Treasury Secretary Antonio Monteiro, who had been detained for questioning on corruption allegations. The National Guard is controlled by the interior ministry, which is dominated by the PAIGC party.
Guinea-Bissau has a history of instability, with at least 10 coups or attempted coups since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974. President Embalo, who was elected in December 2019, survived a failed overthrow in February 2022. The West African region has experienced multiple military takeovers in the past three years.