Election Results Destroyed in Guinea-Bissau Coup, Opposition Claims Victory

Guinea-Bissau’s electoral commission has announced that it is unable to declare the winner of the recent presidential election after the country experienced a military coup, which reportedly led to the destruction of official election results.

The coup, which took place shortly after the vote, has thrown the West African nation into political uncertainty. Authorities from the Electoral Body said the loss of records makes it impossible to confirm the outcome, leaving the nation without a recognized winner.

Prominent African leaders, including regional heads and members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), have urged Guinea-Bissau’s authorities to ensure the swift announcement of the election results, warning that the political instability could have serious regional implications.

Meanwhile, the opposition party has claimed that they won the election and accused outgoing President Umaro Sissoco Embalo of orchestrating the coup to cling to power.

The opposition has called on both domestic and international actors to intervene and uphold the democratic process.

Analysts warn that the situation risks escalating tensions in Guinea-Bissau, a country that has a history of coups and political instability.

International observers have also expressed concern about potential violence and the disruption of governance in the country if the crisis is not resolved quickly.

As Guinea-Bissau grapples with this unprecedented situation, the world watches closely to see whether the country can restore order and honor the electoral mandate of its citizens.