The military rulers in Guinea-Bissau have announced the establishment of a National Transitional Council (NTC) to steer governance after last week’s coup.
The NTC formed just over a week after the military seized power, is tasked with preparing “instruments of transition” and overseeing all transitional governing bodies. The junta has also ordered the drafting of a Transitional Charter, which suspends the existing Judicial Council for the duration of the transition.
The takeover followed a disputed presidential election in which both leading contenders claimed victory. According to the military, the coup was necessary to prevent what they described as a looming risk of “ethnic civil war.”
At this stage, the process lacks transparency: the published resolution does not specify how members of the NTC will be selected. Political watchers warn this could deepen instability in a country already burdened by weak institutions and a history of repeated coups.
