Guinea-Bissau junta removes senior officer linked to ousted president

Guinea-Bissau’s military junta has dismissed Lieutenant-General Sadji Fati, a former defence minister and military adviser to ousted president Umaro Sissoco Embaló.

A decree seen by AFP said Fati was removed with immediate effect from his position as head of the presidential civil office at the palace. The decree did not state why he was dismissed, and no replacement was identified.

Latest change since Embaló’s removal

Fati’s dismissal is the latest in a series of changes affecting defence and security personnel since the military overthrew Embaló and suspended the electoral process.

The junta has been in power since November 26. Embaló is now in exile in Morocco, while the authorities have announced plans to organise presidential and legislative elections on December 6 as part of a return to civilian rule.

Other officials recently dismissed by the junta include Interior Minister General Mama Saliu Embaló and Fisheries Minister Maria Da Cruz Correia. Both were described as close to the former president.

The moves have suggested that the junta is distancing itself from Embaló, including through the removal of members of his presidential guard and officers associated with him.

Questions over planned elections

The military took power one day before provisional results from presidential and legislative elections were due to be announced. Many observers suspected that Embaló may have orchestrated the coup to prevent an election he appeared likely to lose, although that has not been established.

Before the National Electoral Commission raised concerns about the electoral timetable, Embaló told AFP that he intended to seek the presidency again.

The commission has said that the “conditions are not in place to hold” the planned elections. Its statement has added uncertainty over whether the December 6 vote can proceed. The junta’s response to the commission’s position has not been provided.