General Horta N'Tam Sworn In as Transitional Leader of Guinea-Bissau Following Coup
General Horta N'Tam has been installed as the transitional leader of Guinea-Bissau, following a military coup that ousted President Umaro Sissoco Embalo. Embalo has since fled to Senegal, while General N'Tam has been sworn in and is expected to lead a one-year transitional government.
Background
The military coup took place in Guinea-Bissau on Wednesday, just as the country was on the verge of announcing the results from a hotly contested presidential election. President Embalo and opposition leader Fernando Dias da Costa both claimed victory. The military swiftly seized control, suspending the electoral process and shutting the borders, and declared 'The High Military Command for the Restoration of Order' would be in charge.
Key Developments
The military, under the leadership of General Horta N'Tam, said they had taken 'total control' of the country. A day after the coup, N'Tam was invested as the president of the transition and the highest military command, with a ceremony held at the army headquarters. His appointment came amidst allegations from the opposition alleging a presidential plot to stifle their victory.
Following the coup, President Embalo was detained and later arrived in Senegal, confirmed by the country's Foreign Ministry. The circumstances of Embalo's departure from Guinea-Bissau have not been disclosed.
Reactions and Implications
The coup has drawn international condemnation, with the African Union (AU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the West African Elders Forum describing it as an unacceptable disruption of the democratic process. The AU chairperson, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Yousouf, 'unequivocally condemns' the military coup.
On the other hand, a group of army officers in Guinea-Bissau cited a plot to rig the election as the reason for detaining Embalo and halting the electoral process. They demanded the annulment of the vote and imposed a night-time curfew.
Current Status
As it stands, General Horta N'Tam is now the head of a one-year transitional government in Guinea-Bissau, following a disputed election and the military coup. Meanwhile, ousted President Umaro Sissoco Embalo is in Senegal, and the international community is closely monitoring the situation and calling for the immediate restoration of constitutional order. The next steps for the West African nation remain uncertain as it grapples with this abrupt change of power.