In a sudden move, the military in Guinea-Bissau has taken power. They have removed the country's president, Umaro Sissoco Embalo, from his position. A new temporary leader has been put in place. This military group, which calls itself the "High Military Command for the Restoration of Order," announced the change on Wednesday. This is the latest problem in a country that has had many political troubles throughout its history.
The military says it now has complete control of the country. It has stopped the election process, closed the borders, and set a curfew for everyone. On Thursday, a general named Horta Inta-A was sworn in as the new transitional president. He will lead for one year. The military says it took action to stop a dangerous plan by politicians who were working with a powerful drug dealer. The general said they have enough proof to show their operation was necessary.
The former president confirmed he was no longer in power in a phone call. On Thursday night, he was flown to Senegal. The government in Senegal arranged the flight after talking with people in Guinea-Bissau to make sure he was safe. Several other important people were also detained, including the president's main election rival and the army chief.
This military action happened during a time of high political tension. The country was waiting for the results of a recent presidential election. Both the former president and his main rival had already said they won. Many people felt the election was not fair because the main opposition party was not allowed to have a candidate.
The international community has reacted quickly. The African Union has condemned the military's actions. They are demanding that all detained people be released immediately. This is at least the ninth time there has been a coup or an attempted coup in Guinea-Bissau since 1974. It shows that the country remains very unstable. The new military leaders must now negotiate with other African countries about what will happen next.