Kuwait city: Guinea-Bissau's General Horta Nta Na Man has been sworn in as the high military command and the country's transitional president for one year following a military coup that removed outgoing president Umaro Sissoco Embalo. The ceremony took place at the military's headquarters with stringent security measures in place.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the general expressed his commitment to enhancing security in Guinea-Bissau after taking the oath of office. The armed forces announced that all national borders would be reopened, signaling a shift in the country's governance. The coup, executed by some army officers, resulted in the arrest of former president Umaro Sissoco Embalo and a takeover at the Presidential Palace.
The coup coincided with the anticipated announcement of the presidential election results, which had been contentious. Both the outgoing president Embalo and his main challenger Fernando Dias had declared victory in the first round of voting. The electoral commission was scheduled to release provisional results on Thursday.
In addition to Embalo, several senior army officers and the Minister of Interior Botche Cand© were reportedly detained. Guinea-Bissau, a nation situated between Senegal and Guinea, has experienced nine military coups from 1974 to 2020.