Guinea-Bissau junta dismisses officer close to Embalo

Guinea-Bissau's military junta leader, General Horta N'tam, has dismissed Lieutenant-General Sadji Fati, a former defence minister and military adviser under ousted president Umaro Sissoco Embalo, according to a decree seen by AFP on October 14.

The decree said Fati, who headed the presidential civil office at the palace, was removed immediately.

The dismissal is the latest removal of figures linked to Embalo since the junta took power on November 26, a day before provisional presidential and legislative election results were due. The military overthrew Embalo and suspended the electoral process. Embalo is now in exile in Morocco.

The junta recently dismissed Interior Minister General Mama Saliu Embalo and Fisheries Minister Maria Da Cruz Correia, both described by AFP as close to the former president. AFP also reported that members of Embalo's presidential guard and officers close to him have been removed from influential posts.

The junta is supposed to organise presidential and legislative elections on December 6 to allow a return to civilian rule, but the National Electoral Commission said last week that conditions were not in place to hold the vote. Before that announcement, Embalo told AFP he intended to run again for the presidency.