( CNN ) -- The former head of intelligence of Guinea Bissau was shot dead in the capital late Sunday , hours after the peaceful conclusion of the country 's presidential elections . Col. Samba Djalo was shot seven times , officials said . No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack , and authorities did not have a motive , said Interior Minister Fernando Gomes . Djalo served as the country 's intelligence chief during a time when many key political figures were assassinated , including a high-ranking parliamentarian and an independent presidential candidate . He was overthrown along with then-Army Chief of Staff Jose Amora Induta in a mutiny in April 2010 . Both were jailed briefly but later released , and no charges were filed . Meanwhile , elections were held without incident Sunday in the west African nation , with nine candidates vying for the seat of the president . About 180 international observers oversaw the voting . The elections were triggered by the January death of President Malam Bacai Sanha at age 64 after a long illness . Sanha became president in September 2009 , months after the assassination of President Joao Bernardo Vieira . Guinea-Bissau 's history has been marked by military coups and attempted coups since the nation of 1.6 million gained independence from Portugal in 1974 . Those conflicts ravaged the nation 's infrastructure and economy and left it among the poorest in the world . Despite Sanha 's coming to power in what international observers deemed a fair and peaceful election , his tenure was marked by turmoil among the country 's military and political leadership . To date , no democratically-elected president has served a full , five-year term . Guinea Bissau will announce the results of Sunday 's elections in about a week .
Djalo was shot seven times , officials say . Elections are held without incident . - March 20 :