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General Horta N’Tam has been sworn in as the transitional president of Guinea-Bissau, a day after reports of a coup that removed President Umaro Sissoco Embaló from office.
His one-year mandate is intended to stabilise the country and oversee a process toward new elections or a restored constitutional order.
Gen N’Tam, formerly the head of the presidential guard, took the oath at army headquarters during a brief ceremony attended by senior military officers.
Civil society groups, including the Popular Front coalition, have accused the outgoing president of staging what they describe as a “simulated coup” to prevent the release of election results.
Embaló’s main challenger, Fernando Dias, has supported the claims.
President Embaló has not issued a public response, although he has previously stated that he faced several coup attempts during his tenure.
Dias and political ally Domingos Pereira were detained following the events, along with Interior Minister Botché Candé. President Embaló is reportedly being held at the army staff headquarters and is said to be in good condition.
The Chair of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, has called for “the immediate and unconditional release” of President Embaló and all detained officials. ECOWAS has also urged restraint and reaffirmed the importance of respecting the electoral process.
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