The military junta in Guinea-Bissau has dismissed Lieutenant-General Sadji Fati, a former defence minister and close ally of ousted President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, in the latest move to remove officials linked to the former leader. A decree seen by the Agence France-Presse on Wednesday stated that Fati, who headed the presidential civil office at the palace, had been dismissed with immediate effect. Fati previously served as defence minister and military adviser under Embaló. His removal follows a series of dismissals affecting defence and security officials since the military seized power and forced the former president into exile in Morocco. The junta, led by General Horta N'tam, took power on November 26, a day before the scheduled announcement of provisional results from Guinea-Bissau’s presidential and legislative elections. The military takeover halted the electoral process, prompting suspicions among observers that Embaló may have orchestrated the coup to prevent an election defeat. However, the allegation has not been established.