People contacted by APA from the capital, Bissau, said calm has returned after the foiled coup of 1 February 2022.
The President of Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embaló, who emerged unscathed from an abortive coup, spoke of “an isolated act, very well prepared”. He then declared that the situation “was under control”. To ascertain the situation on the ground, APA contacted a resident in Bissau. “Calm has returned to Bissau and banks and businesses have resumed this morning. Obviously, there is a certain amount of fear. But we are used to these coups now,” he said.
Our interlocutor specified that these kinds of events often oppose the military. “Usually it happens mostly between the military. Civilians and banks are not often attacked in these types of situations,” he continued, recalling the bloody events of 2009. “That year, the Chief of Staff (Batista Tagme Na Waie) was killed. The next day, it was President Nuno Vieira’s turn to be assassinated by the military. There was great tension in Bissau. But this did not prevent the population from going about their business the next day. Just to confirm that coups are part of our daily routine.
Another resident in Bissau recounts the day of Tuesday 1 February: “There was violent fighting for several hours. You could hear gunshots. Obviously, there was a feeling of fear, because we didn’t really know what was going on outside. You could just see cars with soldiers driving around the streets.
According to other witnesses, armed men entered the State House, in the early afternoon yesterday. The president and his government were holding an extraordinary cabinet meeting. Heavy gunfire was then heard outside the residence and the fighting reportedly lasted several hours.
President Embaló, in office since December 2019, attributed this umpteenth failed attempt to his desire to fight corruption and drug trafficking. “When I was elected President of the Republic, I defended two things: the fight against corruption and drug trafficking. I knew the price. There were many deaths. It was not only an attempt at a coup but also to kill the president of the Republic and the whole cabinet. But they did not manage to enter the Palace. I congratulate our defence and security forces,” he said a few hours after the failed coup.
CD/lb/abj/APA