Somali Magazine – Guinea-Bissau, a country in West African nation found itself in the throes of a coup attempt on February 2, 2022. The attempt saw to President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and his cabinet under heavy gunfire for five hours.
The attackers, who were linked to drug trafficking within the country, attempted to assassinate the president and his entire cabinet at the government palace. However, their efforts were thwarted by the military, and the president survived the attack. The fighting resulted in several casualties on both sides.
President Embaló, a former army chief who was elected in 2019, has been vocal about his commitment to combating corruption and drug trafficking in his coountry. He claims that the attackers were an isolated group linked to the drug trade in the country and that the attack was a consequence of his stern policies.
The coup attempt has been condemned by regional and international bodies. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the United States have issued statements denouncing the incident. An aincident that is not isolated and is quickly becoming a norm west Africa that has rcently been dubbed the Coup belt. These condemnations have done little to deter the wave of coups sweeping across West and Central Africa.
Guinea-Bissau, a former Portuguese colony, has a history of political instability, with nine coups or attempted coups since 1980. The country, one of the poorest in the world, is heavily reliant on foreign aid. It has also become a transit point for Latin American drugs, earning it the dubious distinction of being dubbed Africa’s first narco-state.
In the aftermath of the failed coup, the government has launched a major investigation. The probe aims to bring the perpetrators to justice and prevent future attempts to destabilize the country. As the investigation unfolds, the people of Guinea-Bissau and the international community wait with bated breath for the outcome.
The recent events in Guinea-Bissau serve as a stark reminder of the fragile political climate in many parts of Africa. As the country grapples with the aftermath of the foiled coup, it is clear that the road to stability and prosperity is a long and challenging one.