Guinea-Bissau soldiers announce Gen. Horta N’Ta as junta leader

Soldiers in Guinea-Bissau on Thursday announced a new junta leader for the country, cementing a forceful takeover of power that began after the country’s presidential election.

The military high command inaugurated Gen. Horta Inta-A as the head of the military government, which will oversee a one-year transition period, according to declaration announced on state television.

“The inability of political actors to stem the deterioration of the political climate ultimately prompted the intervention of the armed forces,” said Inta-A, who was the army chief of staff until the coup and a close ally of deposed President Umaro Sissoco Embaló.

Embaló's whereabouts remained unknown Thursday. He told French media Wednesday that he was arrested by soldiers as gunshots rang out near the presidential palace.

The opposition, meanwhile, alleged Embaló had fabricated the coup to avoid an election defeat in Sunday's closely contested presidential vote.

The military takeover and the reported arrest of Embaló was “fabricated” to disrupt election results expected Thursday, according to his rival Fernando Dias, who, like Embalo, claimed to have won the vote.

The Associated Press could not independently verify the claims by Dias, a member of the Social Renewal Party.

The opposition African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde and Dias had called on residents to stage protests against the coup and demand publication of the election results. But on Thursday morning, activities appeared to be normal in the capital Bissau, with businesses and public transport gradually picking up.