Guinea-Bissau’s military leadership has reopened the country’s borders, less than 24 hours after staging a takeover that halted elections and further unsettled the politically fragile West African nation.
Inspector General of the Armed Forces, General Lansana Mansali, rescinded Wednesday’s sweeping closure of land, air and sea entry points, announcing the move in a brief statement. “All borders are now open,” he said, signaling an attempt to calm a tense national atmosphere.
The reopening followed a dramatic announcement on Wednesday in which the military declared full control of the government, suspended the electoral process, and sealed off the country. The declaration unfolded against the backdrop of heavy gunfire near the presidential palace, where soldiers in uniform occupied the main access road leading to the complex.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday, General Denis N’Canha — head of the presidential military office — said a unified command composed of all branches of the armed forces would oversee the state until further notice. He alleged that security services uncovered a coordinated effort by local drug traffickers to destabilize Guinea-Bissau, claiming the plot involved smuggling weapons into the country to undermine its constitutional order.
The military’s assertions come amid renewed concerns over governance and stability in a nation with a long history of coups, political turbulence and deep-rooted criminal networks tied to drug trafficking.