In brief
In the wake of Guinea-Bissau's military ousting of President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, political leaders from West Africa, including Senegal's Prime Minister and Nigeria's former President, have raised doubts about the authenticity of the coup, suggesting it was staged. Despite the military's claims of thwarting a destabilization plot, election results remain suppressed, heightening uncertainty as the international community calls for a return to democratic governance.
Senegal's prime minister and Nigeria's former president have both said they do not believe the ousting of Guinea-Bissau's president by the country's military was a genuine coup.
Former President Umaro Sissoco Embaló's apparent removal came a day before authorities were due to announce election results.
The military has since suspended the electoral process and blocked the results' release, insisting it thwarted a plot to destabilise the politically unstable country.
Senegal's PM Ousmane Sonko and Nigeria's ex-leader Goodluck Jonathan demanded the presidential election results be released, but did not provide evidence to support their claims the coup was fabricated.
The ex-president arrived in neighbouring Senegal on a chartered military flight late on Thursday, following his release by the military forces who toppled his government.
Nigeria's former leader Jonathan, who led a team of election observers from the West African Elders Forum to Guinea-Bissau, stated the incident was not a coup and described it as a ceremonial coup.
He questioned the events that preceded the announcement of a power grab by the military.
Embaló phoned French TV station France 24 declaring: I have been deposed. Meanwhile, Sonko told lawmakers that what happened in Guinea-Bissau was a sham.
The statements add to claims by the opposition that the coup was staged, although none has so far presented evidence.
On Friday, Guinea-Bissau's transitional leader Gen Horta N'Tam appointed Ilidio Vieira Té as the new prime minister. The African Union suspended Guinea-Bissau following the military takeover, with the Ecowas bloc echoing this demand for a return to order.
According to local residents, reactions have divided, with some hopeful for military governance to improve living conditions, while others express fears of increased chaos.
