Soldiers in Guinea-Bissau on Thursday announced a new junta leader for the country, cementing a forceful takeover of power that began after the country’s presidential election.
The military high command inaugurated Gen. Horta Inta-A as the head of the military government, which will oversee a one-year transition period, according to declaration announced on state television.
“The inability of political actors to stem the deterioration of the political climate ultimately prompted the intervention of the armed forces,” said Inta-A, who was the army chief of staff until the coup and a close ally of deposed President Umaro Sissoco Embaló.
Embaló’s whereabouts remained unknown Thursday. He told French media Wednesday that he was arrested by soldiers as gunshots rang out near the presidential palace.
The opposition, meanwhile, alleged Embaló had fabricated the coup to avoid an election defeat in Sunday’s closely contested presidential vote.
The military takeover and the reported arrest
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