Guinea Bissau President Jose Mario Vaz on Tuesday fired army chief General Antonio Indjai, who was implicated in drug trafficking by the United States last year.
Guinea Bissau is considered a “failed state” by international analysts and is one of the biggest global transit points for cocaine.
President Vaz, who is under pressure to fight drug trafficking and reform the military, did not give reasons for the sacking or name a successor.
Indjai fought for Guinea Bissau’s independence from Portuguese rule in 1976, and masterminded a military coup in 2012.
The coup derailed the second round of a presidential vote and led to the formation of a transitional government until elections this April.
GNA