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Guinea-Bissau army chief Gen Antonio Indjai sacked | |
(8 months later) | |
Guinea-Bissau's new president has dismissed the head of the armed forces, Gen Antonio Indjai. | Guinea-Bissau's new president has dismissed the head of the armed forces, Gen Antonio Indjai. |
He rose to prominence during the civil war in the 1990s and led a coup in the West African country in 2012. | He rose to prominence during the civil war in the 1990s and led a coup in the West African country in 2012. |
No reason was given for his sacking, although President Jose Mario Vaz is under pressure to reform the military. | No reason was given for his sacking, although President Jose Mario Vaz is under pressure to reform the military. |
Last year, the army chief was indicted in the US, accused of plotting to traffic cocaine and sell weapons to Colombian rebels. | Last year, the army chief was indicted in the US, accused of plotting to traffic cocaine and sell weapons to Colombian rebels. |
Many senior military officers have been accused of turning the country into a narco state as it a major hub for cocaine smuggled from Latin America to Europe. | Many senior military officers have been accused of turning the country into a narco state as it a major hub for cocaine smuggled from Latin America to Europe. |
Guinea-Bissau, one of the poorest countries in the world, has a history of coups and no elected leader has served a full term since independence from Portugal in 1974. | Guinea-Bissau, one of the poorest countries in the world, has a history of coups and no elected leader has served a full term since independence from Portugal in 1974. |
Gen Indjai became head of the army after staging an army mutiny in 2010 - and led a coup two years later. | Gen Indjai became head of the army after staging an army mutiny in 2010 - and led a coup two years later. |
The decree announcing his dismissal was read out on state radio on Monday night. | The decree announcing his dismissal was read out on state radio on Monday night. |
Weeks before he was indicted in the US, his former colleague, Rear Adm Jose Americo Bubo Na Tchuto, appeared in a New York court on similar charges linked to cocaine trafficking. | Weeks before he was indicted in the US, his former colleague, Rear Adm Jose Americo Bubo Na Tchuto, appeared in a New York court on similar charges linked to cocaine trafficking. |
Labelled by the US as "drug kingpin", the former chief of the Guinea-Bissau's navy was arrested in international waters in a sting operation by US agents. | Labelled by the US as "drug kingpin", the former chief of the Guinea-Bissau's navy was arrested in international waters in a sting operation by US agents. |
Mr Vaz, a former finance minister, won a run-off vote in May to become president and has promised to fight poverty and end the country's instability. | Mr Vaz, a former finance minister, won a run-off vote in May to become president and has promised to fight poverty and end the country's instability. |
Reuters news agency reports that although a replacement has not been named as the new army chief, it is expected to be a member of Gen Indjai's Balanta ethnic group, which dominates the military. | Reuters news agency reports that although a replacement has not been named as the new army chief, it is expected to be a member of Gen Indjai's Balanta ethnic group, which dominates the military. |
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