In brief
Political leaders from Senegal and Nigeria have criticized the recent military takeover in Guinea-Bissau, branding it a 'sham' as claims emerge suggesting that the coup was staged. President Umaro Sissoco Embaló has been ousted, coinciding closely with the announcement of election results. The military's rationale for the coup involves allegations of a plot to destabilize the nation, but skepticism remains among regional leaders and citizens.
Senegal's prime minister and Nigeria's former president have both said they do not believe the ousting of Guinea-Bissau's president by the country's military was a genuine coup.
Former President Umaro Sissoco Embaló's apparent removal came a day before authorities were due to announce election results.
The military has since suspended the electoral process and blocked the results' release, and has insisted it thwarted a plot to destabilise the politically unstable country.
Senegal's PM Ousmane Sonko and Nigeria's ex-leader Goodluck Jonathan demanded the presidential election results be released, but did not provide evidence to support their claims the coup was fabricated.
The ex-president arrived in neighbouring Senegal on a chartered military flight late on Thursday, following his release by the military forces who toppled his government.
Nigeria's former leader Jonathan, who led a team of election observers from the West African Elders Forum to Guinea-Bissau, said the incident was not a coup.
He described it as a ceremonial coup, questioning the events that preceded Wednesday's announcement of a power grab by the military.
Meanwhile, Senegal's Sonko told lawmakers that what happened in Guinea-Bissau was a sham.
On Friday, Guinea-Bissau's transitional leader Gen Horta N'Tam appointed Ilidio Vieira Té, previously the finance minister, as the new prime minister.
The military said they were taking power to thwart a plot by unnamed politicians who had the support of a well-known drug baron to destabilise the country.
Guinea-Bissau is a coup-prone West African nation which is also strained by drug trafficking.
