Chaotic Night in Guinea-Bissau: Exchange of Gunfire as National Guard Frees Detained Officials

In the early hours of Friday morning, the capital city of Guinea-Bissau, Bissau, was engulfed in heavy gunfire as a clash unfolded between soldiers of the national guard and security forces.

The exchange of gunfire reportedly took place around 01:20 am near the headquarters of the rapid intervention brigade (BIR), as soldiers attempted to re-arrest Finance Minister Souleiman Seidi and Secretary of State for the Treasury Antonio Monteiro.

According to O Democrat, the detained officials had faced questioning on Thursday afternoon regarding an alleged irregular withdrawal of $10 million of state funds, as part of an ongoing anti-corruption inquiry examining payments to 11 companies.

Seidi, asserting the legality of the payments, and Monteiro were arrested following the interrogation to avoid jeopardizing the investigation. However, in a dramatic turn of events, national guard soldiers armed with AK-47 weapons and bazookas reportedly stormed the police cells, freeing the detained officials and taking them to an undisclosed location.

Efforts to negotiate failed, leading to a subsequent exchange of gunfire. Calm was eventually restored after the intervention of special forces.

President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, currently attending the United Nations COP28 climate conference in Dubai, was not present during the turmoil. The situation unfolds against the backdrop of heightened tensions and allegations of financial misconduct, leaving the nation on edge as developments continue to unfold.