Guinea-Bissau: Umaro Sissoco announces his arrest at the presidential palace

Kinshasa, November 26^th, 2025 (CPA) – The Guinea-Bissau president has announced on Wednesday his arrest at the presidential palace, under the supervision of the general commander-in-chief of the land army, after the publication of the first partial results of the last presidential election in which he has been declared winner with 65% of the vote, the international media have reported. “I have been arrested on Wednesday at around 12 noon, while I was in my office at the presidential palace. No violence has been committed against me during this coup d’état”, has declared Umaro Sissoco Embalo, President of Guinea-Bissau. According to the same sources, gunshots have been heard in the middle of the day near the Presidential Palace of Guinea-Bissau, in the vicinity of which passers-by were fleeing for cover, while the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, General Biague Na Ntan, the Vice-Chief of the General Staff, General Mamadou Toure, and the Minister in charge of the Interior, Botche Cande, have also been arrested. Indeed, last Sunday’s presidential elections in Guinea Bissau have raised hopes, tensions and fierce rivalries. However, the country is still awaiting the results of the legislative elections held on the same weekend. For its part, the camp of the Head of State Embalo had claimed to have won 65% of the vote, as did the opposition of Fernando Dias da Costa, who has also claimed victory, while the official proclamation of the results is expected this Thursday. For the rest, the Supreme Court will have to validate the said results on a date that is not yet known.