Critical situation in Guinea-Bissau as President killed

Renegade soldiers have shot dead the president of Guinea-Bissau, Joao Bernardo Vieira. The comes just hours after the killing of the army chief of staff. Gunfire has sounded in the capital Bissau, but the army has insisted no coup is under way.

SOS staff in the country confirm that the situation is so far calm and that the Villages have enough reserves (rice, oil, petrol to run the generators, etc.) in case of an emergency. SOS National Director Mr Nelson Medina has said that local radios, though still functioning, are not broadcasting any information.

The situation at the SOS Children's Village in Bissau is calm. Local markets are functioning but quite empty and almost all shops are closed. As a precautionary mesaure, all children are being kept in the Village together with their mothers. A few mothers will visit to the nearby market today to buy some fresh groceries for all the family houses for the coming week. The SOS Nursery, primary and secondary school and Social Centreare closed for the time being.

At the SOS Children's Village in Canchungo and Gabu, no particular measures have been taken as the situation is also calm. In both locations, schools are open. Both Village Directors have confirmed they have enough food in case the situation worsens.