Military authorities in Guinea-Bissau have reopened the country’s borders, 24 hours after seizing power and disrupting the electoral process in the coup-prone West African nation.
General Lansana Mansali, Inspector General of the Armed Forces, reversed Wednesday’s closure of all land, air, and sea entry points.
“All borders are now open,” they said.
Military authorities in Guinea-Bissau on Wednesday declared that they had assumed full control of the country, announcing the suspension of all electoral activities and an immediate closure of national borders.
The announcement came amid heavy gunfire that rang out near the presidential palace earlier in the day, with men in military uniform taking over the main road leading to the building.
The head of the presidential military office, General Denis N’Canha, while addressing journalists on Thursday said a command composed of all branches of the armed forces, was taking over the leadership of the country until further notice.
N’Canha declared that he had uncovered a plan to destabilise the country involving national drug lords that had included the introduction of weapons into the country to alter the constitutional order.
