Prominent West African figures are alleging that last week’s military takeover in Guinea-Bissau was staged. Senegal’s prime minister and Nigeria’s former president have publicly called the coup a “sham,” suggesting it was fabricated to block the release of presidential election results. The military seized power just before the results were due, suspending the electoral process. Critics accuse ousted President Umaro Sissoco Embaló of orchestrating a “simulated coup” with the army to avoid a potential electoral loss, a claim he has not addressed. Despite the military’s justification of thwarting a destabilizing plot, these allegations cast doubt on the crisis’s authenticity. The African Union and ECOWAS have since suspended Guinea-Bissau’s membership, urging a return to constitutional order amid ongoing political instability and security concerns.
BBC
