The Military Prosecutor’s Office of Guinea-Bissau has ordered the immediate release of 14 soldiers marked as suspects of an alleged coup attempt which occurred between November 30 and December 1, 2023.
One frigate captain, Mita Cumba Nhace, four lieutenants, and other lower-ranking soldiers were released. They were released Tuesday and have returned to their homes.
The Military Public Prosecutor’s Office justified the decision to release the suspects based on the previous rulings of the Criminal Investigation Judge, who had imposed preventive detention and other restrictions on the suspects.
A source from the Military Prosecutor’s Office told O Democrata that 13 of the released suspects remain under certain restrictions as their case proceed, while Frigate Captain Nhace’s case has been closed by the military justice.
Clashes between the National Guard and the special forces of the presidential guard erupted in Guinea-Bissau’s capital on November 30 and continued till Friday. The clashes started after the National Guard soldiers released an opposition minister who was detained and was being investigated for corruption.
President Umaro Embalo described the violence as “another attempted coup.” There had been an attempted coup on the president in February 2022, which saw at least six people killed.
After the 2023 “coup attempt,” President Embalo dissolved the parliament and conducted new parliamentary elections. On December 20, 2023, he appointed a new prime minister who he tasked with fighting corruption.
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