Guinea-Bissau’s military reported the capture of an individual described as the leader of a group of soldiers involved in an attempt to free a detained minister and a senior state official.
The National Guard had taken the officials before seeking refuge in barracks located south of the city. Subsequently, special forces intervened after negotiation attempts failed, leading to an exchange of gunfire.
Later, reports suggested that calm had been restored.
According to an army spokesman quoted by AFP news agency, the situation is now completely under control.
The detained individuals, Finance Minister Souleiman Seidi and Secretary of State for the Treasury António Monteiro, were held in connection with investigations into an alleged improper withdrawal of $10 million of state funds.
They were questioned by an anti-corruption inquiry regarding payments made to 11 companies.
The National Guard soldiers reportedly invaded the police cells near Bandim market, using AK-47 weapons and bazookas to free the officials, as reported by the privately owned O Democrata news outlet.
The National Guard then transported them to an undisclosed location.
President Umaro Sissoco Embalo is currently attending the UN’s COP28 climate conference in Dubai, while regional stabilization forces deployed by the West African bloc Ecowas were observed patrolling the streets on Friday morning.
Guinea-Bissau has a history of coups and attempted coups since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974. Last year, the president claimed to have survived a coup attempt amid heavy gunfire, which he linked to drug trafficking in the country.
However, doubts were raised regarding the official account of the events, prompting questions about the incident’s true instigators and their motives.
