Failed coup attempt in Sao Tome and Principe

The Prime Minister of Sao Tome and Principe announced today, Friday, that a failed coup attempt took place on Thursday night in this small island country located in the Gulf of Guinea and is a model of parliamentary democracy in Africa.

Patrice Trovoada said that four men were arrested, including the outgoing President of the National Assembly, Delfim Neves, and a former mercenary who participated in a failed coup attempt in 2009, explaining that they had tried to attack the army headquarters.

Trovoada was speaking in a video recording that was confirmed to be authentic and sent to AFP in Libreville by Justice Minister Elsa Maria dos Santos Amadou Vaz.

And the prime minister, who appeared sitting in front of a desk with fatigue on his face, sought to "reassure" the population and the "international community".

"There was a coup attempt that began around 00:40 and ended shortly after 6 am," he said.

He added, "The armed forces were attacked in one of the barracks."

He added that a soldier was "taken hostage" and was wounded, "but he can resume his activities within days."

A female citizen contacted by "Agence France Presse" by phone, on condition of anonymity, said that she heard "fire from automatic weapons and heavy weapons, in addition to the sound of explosions, for two hours inside the army headquarters" in the capital of Sao Tome.

"A group of four people associated with the notorious Buffalo group entered the barracks while another group was outside. In pickup trucks," Truvoada said.

He added, "The General Staff informed me that they arrested some people... from the first four group. They were neutralized."

Among those arrested, he said, was Delfim Neves, the outgoing speaker of the National Assembly, who lost his position on November 11 when the new assembly was installed following the legislative elections that took place on September 25, and in which the "Independent Democratic Action" (centre-right) party led by Truvoada won an absolute majority.

Neves was defeated in the first round of the presidential election, which took place on July 18, 2021, and was won by Carlos Villa Nova of the same party.

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