Guinea-Bissau’s President Umaro Sissoco Embalo says he survived an attempted coup after assailants armed with machine guns and AK-47s attacked the government palace, while the President and Prime Minister were inside.
The foiled attack on Tuesday came just two weeks after the military overthrew the democratically elected leader of Burkina Faso, underscoring fears that a recent spate of coups is inspiring others in the region.
President Embalo, while addressing journalists late on Tuesday, said the “attack on democracy” had come during a government meeting at the building. He added that the country’s republican defence and security forces were able to stop this evil, saying the gunfire went on for five hours and that many people had been killed or injured.
However, it was not immediately clear who was behind the assault, though Embalo said it also has to do with fight against narco-trafficking.
Guinea-Bissau became known as a transit point for cocaine between Latin America and Europe in the 2000s as traffickers profited from corruption and weak law enforcement.
