In a national address, Bio declared that the incident would be treated as a matter of public order, devoid of political, tribal, or religious considerations.

Armed assailants attacked a military armoury, two barracks, two prisons, and two police stations on November 26, engaging security forces in confrontations.

 The clashes resulted in 21 casualties, including 14 soldiers, a policeman, a prison guard, a security guard, a woman, and three assailants, according to Information Minister Chernor Bah. Thirteen soldiers and one civilian suspected of involvement are in detention.

President Bio affirmed that the response to the events would be based solely on adherence to the law, emphasizing that all guilty parties, regardless of their status, would be held accountable within legal limits. He released photos and names of 32 men and two women wanted as “fugitives,” offering a reward for information leading to their capture.

Characterizing last month’s events as a clear and unambiguous attempted coup d’etat, Bio highlighted the premeditated and coordinated nature of the attack aimed at overthrowing the democratically elected government through violent and illegal means. The President reiterated his commitment to upholding peace and democracy, emphasizing that decades of investment in these values would not be reversed.

The West African region has witnessed a series of coups since 2020 in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Guinea. Guinea-Bissau also reported an “attempted coup” earlier in the week following clashes between the army and security forces.