Soldiers in Guinea-Bissau have announced General Horta Inta as the head of a new junta, formally confirming a coup just days after the country held a national election. The declaration was made on state television, where senior military officers appeared in uniform to state that the armed forces had taken control “to preserve order and national stability.” They accused the outgoing leadership of mishandling the electoral process and failing to maintain security, though no evidence was presented to support the claims.
The announcement followed two days of unrest in the capital, Bissau, where gunfire was reported near key government buildings and military checkpoints were erected across strategic locations. Sources in the city said several ministers had been detained, while others sought refuge with foreign embassies. The junta did not specify whether it intended to dissolve parliament or suspend the constitution, but it declared that General Inta would oversee “a transitional period” until further decisions were made.
Regional and international bodies, including the African Union and ECOWAS, condemned the takeover and urged the military to return power to elected authorities. They warned that Guinea-Bissau faced isolation if the constitutional process was not restored. The United Nations called for calm, emphasizing that disputes over the election should be addressed through legal and democratic mechanisms rather than force. Diplomatic efforts to engage the junta leadership were underway as the situation remained tense and uncertain.
