At least 11 people were killed when soldiers tried to overthrow Guinea-Bissau’s President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, Fernando Vaz, the minister of tourism and spokesman for the government of Guinea-Bissau confirmed Wednesday.
The dead included military and paramilitary forces and four civilians, including a senior official from the Agriculture Ministry, the Minister of Tourism and spokesman for the government, Fernado Vaz, told news outlets during a news briefing in the capital Bissau.
He also denounced what he described as a “violent and barbaric” attack aimed at decapitating the state.
Vaz said the attempted coup was planned and perpetrated by people with “ulterior motives” with the support of “people with financial capabilities.”
Heavy gunfire was heard near the presidential palace in Bissau on Tuesday, leading to reports of a coup attempt in a country with a history of military takeovers.
While it was not clear whether the attackers were members of the security forces, reports indicated that Embalo and Prime Minister Nuno Gomes Nabiam were holding a Cabinet meeting in the building at the time.
Late Tuesday, President Embalo assured that the situation in Guinea-Bissau was “under government control,” described the coup attempt as an attack against democracy attributed to “the work of isolated elements” linked to drug trafficking.
The attackers were linked to drug trafficking in the country, he said, without providing further details.
President Embalo tweeted (google translate): “I’m fine Alhamdulillah. The situation is under government control. I thank the people of Guinea Bissau and all the people beyond our country who are concerned for my government and me. Long live the Republic and may God watch over Guinea-Bissau,”,
Gunfire erupted near government buildings on Tuesday in the capital of the West African nation, where the President was attending a cabinet meeting, the BBC reported.
Guinea-Bissau, with a population of just under two million people, has seen nine coups or attempted coups since 1980.
Over the past two years there have been military takeovers in Mali, Chad, Burkina Faso and Guinea, as well as further east in Sudan.
(With inputs from agencies)
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