“At this moment, the [Portuguese] community is perfectly calm. It is being informed about all possible updates on the situation and, therefore, we have no situation (…) worthy of note or complaint so far,” indicated Paulo Rangel, questioned by journalists in parliament.

“Obviously, our embassy is in contact with the entire Portuguese community, which numbers around 770 Portuguese citizens, and (…) perhaps another 50 who are temporarily [in the country], with whom, incidentally, we were already in contact,” he explained.

Rangel requested “that violence not be used in any case” and renewed the appeal, already made by the Portuguese government on Wednesday as soon as the situation became known, for a return to “constitutional normality,” as well as “restraint in the use of force, even in detentions.”

“Portugal reiterates, as do other members of the international community – starting with the United Nations, but also, for example, Brazil and the European Union – that it is fundamental to return to constitutional normality. Therefore, there is an appeal, I would say (…) urgent, to those who currently hold effective authority (…) to create the conditions for a return to constitutional normality,” he added.

The head of Portuguese diplomacy also requested that the final counting of the election results be resumed.

The Guinean military announced on Wednesday that they had seized power, one day before the National Electoral Commission of Guinea-Bissau announced the results of the general elections, held on Sunday.

General Horta Inta-A was sworn in today as the transitional President of Guinea-Bissau, in a ceremony held at the General Staff Headquarters of the Guinean Armed Forces, one day after the military seized power.

This information is being disseminated on the social media of Guinean media outlets, notably Guinea-Bissau Television (TGB).

The day after the vote, on Monday, opposition candidate Fernando Dias claimed victory in the first round against the President of the Republic, Umaro Sissoco Embaló, who was running for a second term.

Since its independence from Portugal, Guinea-Bissau has suffered five coups d'état, 17 attempted coups, and a series of changes of government.