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Having seen more than a dozen coups or attempted coups since independence in 1974, and being used as a conduit for drug trafficking, news from Guinea-Bissau that people were trying to unseat President Umaro Sissoco Embaló fitted a pattern of instability.
Guinea-Bissau’s president says the masterminds of last week’s coup attempt served time in US jails for drug trafficking.
Guinea-Bissau, with a population of just under two million people, is one of the poorest countries in the world. The former Portuguese colony has seen nine coups or attempted coups since 1980.
At least one person is said to have been killed in the capital of the West African state of Guinea-Bissau amid fears of a coup attempt.
The US State Department last week offered a reward of $5 million (4.3 million euros) for information leading to the arrest or conviction of General Antonio Indjai.
Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embaló has dismissed five government ministers.
Guinea-Bissau’s prime minister, Nuno Gomes Nabiam, said Wednesday he had been infected with coronavirus, as three other ministers in the fragile West African state also tested positive.
Four countries led by war-ravaged Mali on Wednesday joined the lengthening list of African countries hit by the novel coronavirus as fears of the disease swept members of Nigeria’s political elite.
Guinea-Bissau’s self-declared leader has embarked on a tour of neighbouring West African states in an apparent bid to shore up legitimacy while his election win remains contested.
Former Guinea-Bissau Prime Minister Umaro Cissoko Embalo has been elected president after winning a run-off vote against another ex-prime minister.