Guinea-Bissau has been hit by a coup d’état, as military officers declared on Wednesday that they seized control of the West African country and closed all borders, according to media reports. This comes days after disputed elections in which both the current president, Umaro Sissoco Embalo, and his main challenger, Fernando Dias, declared victory.

According to Jeune Afrique, Embalo was arrested in his office at the presidential palace during the “coup,” which he reportedly said was orchestrated by the army chief of staff. The magazine said sources reported gunfire around midday near the palace and the electoral commission’s offices, adding that men in fatigues took up positions along the main road to the presidency.

A spokesperson for Embalo told Reuters that unidentified gunmen attacked the election commission to stop the announcement of the provisional election results. He claimed that the assailants were linked to Dias, but did not provide any evidence.