Guinea-Bissau has foiled a planned coup attempt less than a day before the official launch of election campaigns scheduled to begin on Saturday.
Gatekeepers News reports that speaking during a press briefing in the capital, Bissau, on Friday, Deputy Chief of Staff Mamadu Ture confirmed that the alleged plot was intended to derail the nation’s upcoming electoral process.
While he did not provide the exact number of suspects in custody, Ture identified Brigadier-General Daba Nawalna, who heads a military training centre, as the key figure behind the plan.
He said Nawalna and other collaborators were apprehended in a coordinated overnight operation carried out by the army and state security forces.
Guinea-Bissau is set to hold its presidential election on November 23, with incumbent President Umaro Embaló widely tipped to secure victory following the disqualification of his main rival.
The country’s election was initially slated for November 2024 but was postponed by Embaló over instability, logistical constraints, and disagreements over term limits.
