from DIALLO CAMARA in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Bissau Bureau
BISSAU, (CAJ News) – FROM being the head of the presidential guard to being the president of the country, the transition of General Horta Inta-A Na Man has been swift.
On Thursday, a day after the military announced the coup, post the divisive elections, announced him as the head of the government, which runs the country under the name, the High Military Command for the Restoration of Order.
It is composed of all branches of the armed forces.
Inta-A is tasked with overseeing a one-year transition period in the impoverished country of 2,2 million.
He is quoted at a brief ceremony at the military headquarters as justifying the military takeover.
“The inability of political actors to stem the deterioration of the political climate ultimately prompted the intervention of the armed forces.”
There were allegations some drug kingpins were involved in a plot to destabilise the election process.
While a coup on its own is a contentious exercise, more controversy stems from that Inta-A was seen as a close ally of the deposed Umaro Embalo, which to an extent gives credence that Embalo had stage-managed his overthrow to curb the publication of results.
The announcement was scheduled on the day Inta-A was sworn-in.
Not much is known about the new man at the helm except his military profile.
It rose in early 2022 when Inta-A led a battalion that thwarted a coup against Embalo.
Embalo appointed him Chief of the Private Staff to the Presidency the following year. He served as the head of the presidential guard
The ascension of Inta-A has set the West African country on a collision course with the international community.
Widespread condemnation followed the swearing-in.
On Thursday, leaders of the Economic Community of West African States held an extraordinary virtual summit to address the escalating political crisis.
Indications are Guinea-Bissau will be suspended from the bloc.
Ghana’s foreign ministry stated, “This unconstitutional usurpation of authority represents a direct assault on democratic governance and disrupts the electoral process that followed the peaceful conduct of presidential and legislative elections.”
There are doubts the military would cede power after a year, as per its pledge.
Brant Philip, researcher on East and West Africa reference, used the example of Mali.
“When Assimi Goïta led a coup against the Malian government in 2021, he promised to return to civilian rule 18 months later in 2022, we’re currently in 2025 and he is still in power, we’ll see if the new Guinea-Bissau junta in contrast can respect its commitment.
– CAJ News