afrol News, 14 September - Following a bloodless military coup in Guinea-Bissau this morning, army chief of staff General Verissimo Correia Seabra has assumed the troubled country's presidency. The elected Bissauan President, Kumba Yala, is accused of incompetence and is kept detained in army barracks.

The Bissauan army launched a coup in the former Portuguese colony this (Sunday) morning and easily took control over state institutions. In a radio broadcast Lieutenant Colonel Jose Zamora Induta read a statement saying "there was no shooting, nor will there be any shooting," the Portuguese news agency Lusa reported.

President Yala, who was elected into power in year 2000, was reported to be held in an army barrack in the capital, Bissau. According to army spokesman Zamora, other political leaders have been ordered to surrender to the military.

This afternoon, army chief of staff General Correia announced that he had taken over the powers of the Bissauan presidency until general elections could be held. In an interview with Portuguese state television, 'RTP', General Correia announced he was only to hold "constitutional powers" as an Interim President.

The army further announced it was to appoint a new Military Committee for the Restitution of Constitutional and Democratic Order, where all political forces and parties of Guinea-Bissau were to be represented. General Correia was to head the Committee until elections could be held.

General Correia on 'RTP' further accused detained President Yala of causing "political instability", which was undermining the development of Guinea-Bissau. Mr Yala further was said to have abused his powers, taken unconstitutional measures, silenced the opposition and press and prepared a fraudulent vote in planned elections.

- As a person, I have nothing against Kumba Yala, General Correia however told RTP. "He can stay in Guinea-Bissau as well as leave the country. That's up to him."

In Bissau, the situation is reported to be calm. The Portuguese embassy in Bissau reported there had been "no acts of violence, no shots fired and no injuries." Although a curfew has been imposed, street life was been reported to be normal in the Bissauan capital.

The first international reactions to the coup in Bissau have been negative. The Portuguese Foreign Ministry issued a statement, saying Portugal regretted "the military coup today in Guinea-Bissau and appeals to those behind it to return constitutional legality to the country immediately."

The coup makers in Guinea-Bissau are however not expected to become the target of international sanctions and pressure as was the case during the coup in São Tomé and Príncipe earlier this year. While the São Toméan government led a policy in line with generally accepted development goals, the international society pretty much had given up on the civilian government of President Yala before the coup.

Army leader Correia thus simply has repeated statements already made by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, the African Union and the European Union. Despite four year of civilian rule, President Yala was now leading Guinea-Bissau on a downward course, according to the UN. The international society was pushing for elections, which already have been postponed four times.

The population of Guinea-Bissau has suffered from repression, poverty and political instability for half a century. Following a repressive Portuguese colonial rule and a bloody liberation war, the country slipped into a corrupt dictatorship. A military coup in 1998 again led to a bloody civil war.

Democracy was introduced with the help of UN peacekeepers and President Yala in early 2000 became the country's first democratic leader. Mr Yala however has led a constant conflict with the country's military forces, political parties and civil society. His inability to produce political and economic stability had led him to turn more repressive against the opposition. There were growing concerns over the repeatedly delayed elections and Mr Yala's commitment to democracy.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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