Gunshots were heard in Guinea-Bissau’s capital, Bissau, overnight, continuing into Friday morning. The reasons behind the shooting are unclear.
One reporter mentioned that the gunfire started after midnight in Antula, a neighborhood on the outskirts of the capital where an army general resides.
On Friday morning, military vehicles were present on the streets, and although gunshots persisted, they were less frequent than during the night.
Another reporter noted hearing gunfire near the presidential palace. Guinea-Bissau has experienced at least 10 coups or attempted coups since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974.
The nation, located south of Senegal in West Africa, has seen limited democratic stability, with only one elected president completing a full term.
In February of the previous year, during a failed attempt to overthrow President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, at least six people lost their lives.
President Embalo suggested a connection between the incident and the government’s efforts against drug trafficking, rather than it being a military plot to seize power.
Notably, West Africa has witnessed a series of military takeovers over the past three years.
Mali faced two, Guinea experienced one, Burkina Faso encountered two, and Gabon had one. Sierra Leone recently thwarted a military attempt to overthrow its government. In the capital, Freetown, over 20 people lost their lives as gunmen attacked military barracks, a prison, and other locations, resulting in the release of approximately 2,200 inmates.
This incident occurred over the weekend, reflecting the broader regional challenges with political stability.
In recent times, several African nations have found themselves grappling with the unsettling specter of military coups.
According to political analysts, the surge in coups across the African continent is attributed to a dearth of effective leadership and the prevalence of dictatorial regimes.
The assertion posited by these experts suggests that a deficiency in sound governance and the concentration of power in the hands of autocratic leaders contribute significantly to the vulnerability of nations to the destabilizing force of coups.
The multifaceted challenges faced by these countries underscore the pressing need for fostering transparent, accountable, and participatory governance to mitigate the risk of political upheaval.
