Heavy gunfire was reported in Guinea-Bissau’s capital on Friday morning hours after some National Guard soldiers went to free a detained minister and a senior state official.
Members of the National Guard took the officials before seeking refuge in barracks south of the capital.
Special Forces then intervened after attempts to negotiate failed, resulting in an exchange of gunfire.
Calm is said to have been restored later.
The finance minister, Souleiman Seidi, and the secretary of state for the treasury, Antonio Monteiro, had been detained amid investigations into the alleged irregular withdrawal of $10m (£8m) of state funds.
They were questioned on Thursday afternoon by an anti-corruption inquiry to clarify the payments to 11 companies.
In a parliamentary session on Monday, the leader of the country’s main opposition party alleged that the owners of the companies were close to leaders of the country’s governing coalition.
Mr Seidi defended the payments as legal.
On Thursday after the questioning, Mr Seidi and Mr Monteiro were arrested and detained so as not to jeopardise the investigations, local media said.
National Guard soldiers later in the evening invaded the police cells, located near Bandim market, “with AK-47 weapons and bazookas” and extricated the detained officials, the privately owned O Democrata news outlet reported.
It said the National Guard took them to an unknown location.
President Umaro Sissoco Embalo is currently out of the country, attending the UN’s COP28 climate conference in Dubai.
On Friday morning, regional stabilization forces deployed by the regional West African bloc Ecowas were seen patrolling the streets, the AFP news agency reported.
Guinea-Bissau has suffered a series of coups and attempted coups since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974.
In February last year, the president said he survived a coup attempt after being under heavy gunfire for five hours – in an incident in which 11 people died.
Without providing details, he said the attack was linked to drug trafficking in the country.
Some however doubted the official version of the events, amid questions including who was really behind the attempt, how many people were involved and who was in command.
Super Eagles of Nigeria have returned to the summit of Group A after defeating the wild dogs of Guinea Bissau in the second leg of their African cup of Nations, AFCON Qualifiers.
Nigeria dropped to second in the group after a shocking loss to Guinea Bissau at the Abuja National Stadium, Abuja last Friday.
But, a 30th minute strike from the penalty spot by Moses Simon was enough to earn the Super Eagles a one nil victory yesterday and return to the top of Group A with 9 points.
Guinea Bissau are back to second place with 7 points, Sierra Leone in third with 5 points, while Sao Tome and Principe sits bottom of the group with just a point.
Super Eagles of Nigeria will Monday play the Wild dogs of Guinea Bissau in the second leg of their African cup of Nations, AFCON Qualifiers.
The encounter, which will be played at the Estádio 24 de Setembro in Guinea Bissau, will kick off at five o’clock in the evening.
Guinea Bissau currently sits top of Group A with 7 points following their 1-0 victory over Nigeria in the first leg on Friday at the Abuja National Stadium.
Nigeria are in second position with 6 points but a victory Monday evening would see them return to the summit of Group A.
President Muhammadu Buhari has reaffirmed the commitment of Nigeria to work with Guinea Bissau and other countries towards sustaining and strengthening democracy and good governance in the sub-region and the larger African continent.
President Buhari gave the assurance during a one-day state visit to Guinea Bissau, where he gave words of encouragement to the people of the country for standing with the democratically-chosen administration of President Umaro Sissoco Embaló against threats by undemocratic forces.
The President appreciated the conferment of the country’s highest national honour, the Amilcar Cabral Award, on him as well as the naming of a major street in Bissau, the capital city, after him.
President Buhari said: “In the course of this one-day official visit to Bissau today, we had an opportunity to review the state of our bilateral relations, and to share concerns on the challenges facing us in the region. I very much appreciate the naming of two roads in my honour, as well as being conferred with the highest honour of Guinea Bissau.
“I am personally grateful to you, your government and the people of this fine country. I believe all of these were possible because of the persevering stand of Nigeria in ensuring that Guinea Bissau remains on the side of democratic governance.
“Nigeria’s strong stand through the ECOWAS, in insisting and pushing for the full implementation of the Conakry Peace Agreement by imposing sanctions on 19 individuals who impeded the implementation of the Conakry Agreement helped to restore the peace that now prevails in Guinea Bissau.
“Guinea Bissau and Nigeria have come a long way. Our cordial relations date back to Guinea Bissau’s liberation struggle from Portugal when Nigeria supported the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde.
“Nigeria has on its own, as well as through ECOWAS, intervened at critical periods in the life of this country, making immense direct contributions as well as, by supporting international efforts on the peace process in Guinea Bissau. This fact has further reinforced our relations, enhanced understanding and trust between our two countries.”
The President congratulated the people of Guinea Bissau for rallying around Abhay, a name he fondly calls President Embalo.
He encouraged the people of Bissau-Guineans to support the entrenchment of democratic values in their country, saying: “You should always ensure that the electoral process is conducted in free and fair conditions.”
Continued cooperation
President Buhari concluded his address by assuring President Embalo of the continued disposition of Nigeria towards reinforcing cooperation with Guinea Bissau, both at bilateral and multilateral levels.
The President of Guinea Bissau had praised Nigeria for always standing with them in their 20 years of instability.
“You have assisted us with our elections. You have assisted in stabilising Guinea Bissau. I assure you that your support for democracy in this country and the entire subregion is much appreciated by the people, who as you have seen, trooped to greet you,” President Embalo said.
The Guinea-Bissau leader also assured President Buhari that he would follow in his footsteps in ensuring free and fair elections in his country and leaving at the end of his tenure.
He thanked the Nigerian leader for assisting his country with 70 doctors, who perform the dual duties of training the Guineans and carrying out surgeries in the country without ordinary citizens having to travel to Portugal for medical attention.
On the “Amilcar Cabral Award” conferred on the President and the major street named Muhammadu Buhari Boulevard, President Embalo said the two events reflected the most solemn moment of the country and a recognition of the stabilising role President Buhari has been playing in the life of his country, as well as his defence of democracy and its values throughout the subregion.
New Presidential Villa
President Embalo promised to re-invite President Buhari to commission the new Presidential Villa, now under construction even after leaving office, saying that the edifice will be named Muhammadu Buhari Villa.
Nigerian officials that received the Guinean merit award are: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno; Chief of Staff to the President, Ambassador Ibrahim Gambari; and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Rufai Abubakar.
Others are the Special Assistant to the President on Domestic Matters, Alhaji Sarki Abba, and the State Chief of Protocol, Ambassador Lawal Kazaure.
President Buhari later landed in Katsina en route Daura, his hometown.
Nigeria’s Gernot Rohr-led Super Eagles who are chasing a fourth title have learned their opponents for the biennial African football showpiece.
Nigeria will face the Pharaohs of Egypt in Group D of the preliminary round of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations where they are joined by Sudan and Guinea Bissau.
The draw ceremony which took place at Yaounde Conference Centre in Cameroon, served up plenty of interesting battles.
Debutants at the tournament, Comoros, will they take on Senegal, Ghana and Gabon in Group C.
Tunisia have been zoned alongside Mali, Mauritania, and Gambia in Group F.
While Algeria must make their way past Sierra Leone, Equatorial Guinea and Cote d’Ivoire in Group E if they hope to get to the second round of the competition.
The Super Eagles will begin their quest for glory against the Pharaohs at the Roumde Adjia Stadium, Garoua on January 11, 2022.
The 33rd edition of the biennial African football showpiece was due to begin on January 9, 2021, however, it was pushed back to January 2022 due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic that crippled football-related activities.
