The new coup is the tenth that Guinea-Bissau has witnessed in West Africa on the Atlantic coast, where it has witnessed 9 coups since independence from Portugal in 1974, the last of which was in 2012, when the army disrupted the elections.
The country has also been suffering from decades of political instability, and the coups have undermined efforts to diversify the economy away from the export of cashews.
What happened?
The details of the coup were announced by Embalo himself, as he appeared in a video posted on the presidency’s Facebook page hours after hearing the shooting, saying that some “those involved have been arrested, but he does not know their number.”
He added that several security forces were killed in repelling an attack on democracy that may have been linked to drug smuggling.
The President of Guinea-Bissau confirmed that “calm has returned to the country and the situation is under the control of the government, and it is fine and the situation is under the control of the government.”
He pointed out that no ministers were killed in the shooting and deaths in the ranks of the security forces, noting that some of those involved in the events were arrested.
Omar Sissoko Embalo said the attack was “well-prepared and organized, and it could be related to those involved in drug smuggling”.
The coup began when heavy gunfire was heard on Tuesday afternoon in Guinea-Bissau, near the seat of government.
A state of confusion prevailed in the capital of this small country with a turbulent political history, and the surrounding areas witnessed a flight of residents, while the markets were empty of pedestrians and the banks closed their doors.
Causes of disorders
In this regard, African researcher Ahmed Najm El-Din says: “Guinea-Bissau is one of the five former Portuguese colonies located within the West African region, not only geographically, but also from the perspective of being affected by the general climate of the region, which is characterized by political instability.”
He added in exclusive statements to “Sky News Arabia”: The political instability in the countries of the region often comes due to military coups such as Mali 2012 and Guinea Bissau April 12, 2012.
He continued: “The failure to recognize the results of the presidential elections and the related incitement to internal violence by the defeated candidates leads to these disturbances and coups.”
Najm El-Din asserts: “The political history of Guinea-Bissau and since its independence in 1979 from Portugal confirms the existence of a long negative legacy of political instability linked primarily to the problem of the struggle for power.”
He explains: “The dialectical relationship between the state and the army is unbalanced and unstable throughout most of the history of this country, and it is a driver of political crises and is often translated into many coups.”
International and African condemnation
Immediately after the coup attempt, the Economic Community of West African States “ECOWAS” condemned it, and said: “We are following with great concern the development of the situation in Guinea-Bissau, where the army is firing around the government palace.”
As for the UN spokesperson, he called for an immediate end to the violence and full respect for democratic institutions.
The Portuguese embassy also called on its nationals to stay in their homes due to the events taking place in the country.
Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa also said he spoke to Embalo by phone and “conveyed his strong condemnation… of these attacks on the constitutional order of Guinea Bissau.”
complex political crisis
Politics in Guinea-Bissau takes place within the framework of a semi-presidential democratic republic, with a multi-party system, where the president is the head of state, the prime minister is the head of government, and executive power is exercised by the government.
The country is currently living in two governments, one of which is an article that considers itself legitimate and considered by the international community as well, and another is appointed by the outgoing president.
This came after Omar Sissoko Embalo, who won the presidential elections in December 2020 with 54% of votes over his rival Dominguez Simos Pereira, appointed the new prime minister, while Parliament appointed a rival interim president, Kipriano Casama, after they said Embalo’s presidency was “illegal”. .
Those conflicting appointments increased the state of confusion that dominates the political scene in the country since the presidential elections.
On the same night, incumbent President Embalo responded by decree dismissing the Prime Minister and appointing the incumbent Prime Minister Nuno Nabiam, who was one of the presidential candidates.
The current president of Guinea-Bissau faces huge challenges, including widespread poverty and an unstable political system.
After winning the presidency, the president of Guinea-Bissau pledged to work to change the constitution to increase presidential powers.
Commenting on African affairs, Mohamed Al-Jazzar said: “After the current president took over the reins of power, drafting a new constitution for the country is one of the most important priorities that he sees, as the 1984 constitution had a role in the successive political crises in this country.”
He added, in statements to Sky News Arabia: “Therefore, on May 12, 2020, Embalo issued a presidential decree to establish a committee tasked with proposing a new draft constitution.”
And he added: “Embalo wants to put in place a new system of government, abolish the semi-presidential system, and divide powers between the president and the prime minister in a clear way that does not have conflict or ambiguity, and this meets obstacles by his opponents.”
Guinea-Bissau is among the least developed countries in the world, and one of the 10 poorest countries in the world, and depends mainly on agriculture and fishing. The cashew crop has increased significantly in recent years, and the country now ranks sixth in its production.