General Horta N’Tam, the army chief of staff, announced on Thursday that he had been sworn in to lead the country. President Embalo was detained at the general-staff headquarters, where a military source said he was being “well-treated.” Other top officials, including the chief of staff and the interior minister, were also detained. Opposition leader Domingos Simoes Pereira, barred from last weekend’s election, was reportedly arrested as well.
In a statement on X, AU Commission chair Mahmoud Ali Youssouf condemned the coup and urged “the immediate and unconditional release of President Embalo and all detained officials,” calling on all parties to exercise restraint. The AU emphasized the need to respect the ongoing electoral process in Guinea-Bissau.