Guinea-Bissau names Embaló’s ally interim head, intensifying speculation of an ‘arranged coup’

Guinea-Bissau plunged into political turmoil yesterday as soldiers installed General Horta Inta-A, a known ally of President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, as interim leader.

The move comes just days after a contested presidential election, raising concerns among opposition parties and regional observers that the takeover was a premeditated effort to prevent Embaló from losing power.

The High Military Command for the Restoration of National Security and Public Order announced it had seized control, suspended the electoral process, and imposed a nationwide curfew.

State television broadcast the announcement, marking the formal start of military rule.

Both Embaló and opposition candidate Fernando Dias had claimed victory in Sunday’s election, creating a tense environment ahead of official results.

Opposition figures immediately decried the takeover, labeling it an “arranged coup” designed to secure Embaló’s hold on power.

Dias called on supporters to demand transparency in the electoral process and mobilize protests.

General Inta-A had previously been appointed by Embaló as Chief of Staff to the Presidency and held key security positions, giving him direct access to the president’s inner circle.

Before the coup, General Horta Inta-A had long been one of Embaló’s most trusted military allies. His rise began after the February 1, 2022 attack on the Government Palace, when he led the Presidential Battalion in repelling armed assailants.

Embaló publicly praised his “courage and bravery,” calling him indispensable to national security. This loyalty earned Inta-A a powerful promotion in September 2023, when Embaló appointed him Chief of the Private Staff to the Presidency one day after the government had removed him from his previous post.

The president justified the move by saying he needed someone he fully trusted to bridge the Presidency and the Armed Forces and to help prevent “another February 1st.”

Now, with Inta-A installed as interim president by the military, that close history has resurfaced.

This longstanding alliance positioned him as a trusted military figure capable of stepping into leadership in a crisis. Observers argue that this pre-existing relationship fueled claims that the coup was orchestrated to protect Embaló’s political interests amid the disputed election results.

The international reaction was swift. Both the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) condemned the military intervention, calling for the immediate release of detained officials and the restoration of constitutional order.

Analysts warn that the coup could deepen political instability in a country already marked by repeated power seizures since independence.

While the military claims the takeover is intended to maintain order, critics see it as a calculated move to circumvent the electoral process.

As tensions rise, the international community is closely monitoring developments, urging dialogue and a return to civilian-led governance.