Guinea-Bissau's President Umaro Sissoco Embaló has been arrested by armed men, government sources have told the BBC, after gunfire was heard near the presidential palace. Witnesses in the capital, Bissau, heard gunshots at around 13:00 GMT, but it remains unclear who was involved in the shooting. This alarming event follows a presidential election held just three days prior, in which the main opposition candidate was disqualified from contesting. Results were expected on Thursday, with both Embaló and his rival Fernando Dias claiming victory.

Hundreds of people on foot and in vehicles sought shelter as the gunfire rang out, according to reports from the AFP news agency. Guinea-Bissau is among the poorest nations globally and has a troubled political history, with a record of nine coups or attempted coups since 1980. This incident marks the latest attempt on Embaló's leadership, following two previous assassination attempts as recent as December 2023.

This is a breaking news story that is continuously being updated.