Sao Tome: One of alleged ringleaders, three assailants die in failed coup attempt

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Sao Tome: One of alleged ringleaders, three assailants die in failed coup attempt

10:34 CAT | 26 Nov 2022

Patrice Trovoada, who took office a fortnight ago, said the situation in the country was "calm and controlled"

One of the alleged ringleaders of the attempted coup d’état in Sao Tome and Principe, which occurred early this Friday morning, and three of the four assailants of the barracks have died, a source linked to the case told Lusa.

The armed forces arrested four men, civilians, who, around 00:40 (local time, same time in Lisbon), attacked the military barracks, allegedly to steal weapons, in an operation that was settled around 06:00, after the intervention of marines.

In the early morning, the military arrested, in their respective homes, the former speaker of parliament Delfim Neves, currently member of parliament for the Basta movement, and Arlécio Costa, former officer of the ‘Buffalo Battalion’ who was convicted in 2009 for an attempted coup d’état, allegedly identified by the attackers as the instigators.

A source linked to the case told Lusa that the soldiers took Arlécio Costa to the barracks, where he died of unexplained causes.

As for the three assailants, they were in a room in the barracks with the officer of the day as hostage and were injured when the marines blew the door off.

The assailants allegedly acted with the complicity of soldiers inside the barracks, and at least three corporals were arrested. Outside, about 12 men were waiting in vans and some fled during the exchange of fire with the military.

The attackers and the soldiers engaged in clashes, with the officer on duty being taken hostage and seriously injured after being beaten.

In a press conference around 09:00, the prime minister, Patrice Trovoada, who took office a fortnight ago, said the situation in the country was “calm and controlled” and praised the actions of the armed forces, who defended the barracks “with professionalism”.

The head of government also said he expected justice to do its job and called for a “firm hand” to be dealt to those responsible for the attempted coup, after announcing the arrest of Delfim Neves and Arlécio Costa by the military, “based on statements from the first group of four [attackers].

Portugal and Cabo Verde have already repudiated the attack.

Source: Lusa