Guinea-Bissau’s electoral commission says it is unable to conclude the tabulation of presidential election results after unidentified armed men broke into its headquarters and stole vote tally sheets. The incident occurred on November 26, three days after the country held presidential and legislative elections, and on the same day the military seized power.

Both incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and opposition contender Fernando Dias da Costa had declared themselves winners before the military takeover. Following the seizure of power, the armed forces installed former army chief Gen. Horta Inta-a to lead a military government expected to oversee a one-year transition.

Gen. Inta-a has since named a 28-member cabinet, which includes several allies of the ousted president. Embaló has reportedly fled to Brazzaville in the Republic of Congo.

Meanwhile, Nigeria has announced that President Bola Tinubu approved protective custody for Fernando Dias da Costa, citing an imminent threat to his life.

Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, who was in Guinea-Bissau as head of the West African Elders Forum Election Observation Mission, commented that the developments in the country did not constitute a conventional coup. He described the episode as a “ceremonial coup,” noting that Embaló himself had publicly claimed he was being overthrown while still communicating freely with the media.

Jonathan reiterated that despite the turmoil, the election results should be released in line with democratic norms.