Guinea-Bissau was thrown into chaos on Wednesday after military officers reportedly declared total control of the country, following heavy gunfire near key government installations in the capital, Bissau. The shooting erupted around the election commission headquarters, the presidential palace, and the interior ministry, just a day before provisional results from Sunday’s highly contested presidential and legislative elections were expected to be released.

The tense vote pits incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embalo against leading challenger Fernando Dias, with both camps claiming early victory earlier in the week. Witnesses, including a Reuters journalist and residents near the scenes, described moments of panic as civilians fled in fear while gunfire echoed across central Bissau for nearly an hour before subsiding. A significant military presence quickly surrounded the presidential palace, deepening uncertainty over who controls state authority.

As reports of the takeover spread, residents recounted frantic attempts to escape the escalating violence, with one witness describing people running in all directions to seek safety. With tensions now boiling over and the political future of the coup-prone nation hanging in the balance, what does this latest outbreak of unrest mean for Guinea-Bissau’s fragile democracy? Visit www.jocomms.com for more news