Guinea-Bissau’s military has sworn in General Horta Nta Na Man as transitional president and announced a one-year interim administration. This comes a day after senior officers said they had deposed President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, halted the election process, and formed the “High Military Command for the Restoration of Order.”

His main rival, Fernando Dias, claimed the coup was fabricated to block his victory and accused Embalo and the army of conspiring to nullify the vote. Dias, speaking from hiding, insisted the people had already chosen their next leader and demanded the release of detained opposition figures.

Regional and international bodies, including the African Union, ECOWAS, and the UN, condemned the coup and raised concerns about detained officials and the safety of election observers, as Guinea-Bissau once again faced political upheaval in a history marked by repeated coups since 1974.ECOWAS has suspended Guinea-Bissau from all “decision-making bodies” of the sub-regional organisation until the return of constitutional order.