The military in Guinea-Bissau has revealed that its takeover on November 26 was driven by what it described as “the risk of an ethnic civil war” following last month’s elections.
The coup, which ousted President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, had initially been justified by claims of “drug-trafficking networks” allegedly seeking to destabilize the country. But in a new statement accompanying the creation of a “National Transitional Advisory Council,” the army asserted that the nation was facing a “dangerous” political situation that could escalate into internal conflict.
“The armed forces were once again forced to intervene, resulting in another forced change of the constitutional order,” the military leadership said.
Meanwhile, the electoral commission announced on Tuesday that it can no longer publish the results of the presidential and legislative elections held on November 23, after unidentified individuals stormed its headquarters and destroyed vote records during the coup.
The election pitted Embaló against his opponent Fernando Dias, who unilaterally declared himself the winner.
Following the takeover, General Horta Inta, an ally of Embaló, was appointed to lead a one-year transitional administration.
