Guinea-Bissau’s army says it has foiled a plot to overthrow the government just a day before the start of election campaigning, arresting several senior military officers accused of trying to “subvert the constitutional order.”
At a press conference in Bissau on Friday, Deputy Chief of Staff General Mamadu Ture said the alleged plan was intended to derail the upcoming polls. “This action aimed to disrupt the electoral process,” he stated, without revealing how many officers were detained or the exact nature of their plot.
Among those arrested is Brigadier General Daba Nawalna, who heads a military training centre about 30 kilometres from the capital. He is accused of being one of the masterminds behind the attempt.
Campaigning officially begins on Saturday, roughly three weeks before legislative and presidential elections expected to be dominated by incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, following the disqualification of the main opposition party.
Speaking after a cabinet meeting on Thursday, Embalo warned that “no disorder will be tolerated,” stressing that the government had taken “all necessary measures to ensure the safety of each candidate during this campaign.”
Guinea-Bissau, a small West African nation, has experienced repeated coups and political instability since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974. However, since its 2014 elections, the country has been trying to strengthen democratic governance and the rule of law.
