Guinea-Bissau Election Chaos: Vote Count Destruction and Military Coup
Guinea-Bissau's electoral commission announced that the vote count from the recent election was mostly destroyed by armed individuals, preventing the publication of results. The military seized control of the country just before the provisional election results were set to be revealed. The deputy executive secretary of the National Electoral Commission stated that the electoral process could not be concluded due to the destruction of tally sheets, except for those from Bissau.
During a meeting with representatives from ECOWAS, the CNE confirmed that they were unable to release the election results. Armed men entered the tabulation room before the coup, arresting the CNE president, five Supreme Court judges, and threatening other agents. They confiscated phones, computers, and destroyed all tally sheets except for those from Bissau. The main server was destroyed, and equipment from other regions was intercepted and confiscated.
The true reasons behind the coup in Guinea-Bissau are unclear, with speculation that it may have been sanctioned by the ousted President Umaro Sissoco Embalo. The country, plagued by political instability, has a history of coups since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974. Guinea-Bissau has now been suspended from the African Union, joining other countries like Burkina Faso, Mali, Madagascar, Niger, and Sudan following coups.
In conclusion, Guinea-Bissau's electoral process has been disrupted by the destruction of vote count materials, leading to uncertainty and political turmoil in the country. The aftermath of the coup has raised questions about the motives behind the military takeover and the future of governance in Guinea-Bissau.