Guinea-Bissau’s opposition threatens to paralyze the country over the expiration of President Umaro Sissoco Embalo’s term amid electoral disputes. While the opposition claims his mandate ends soon, the Supreme Court disagrees. The government postponed elections, increasing unrest. An ECOWAS mission aims to mediate, but the opposition has rejected their involvement, citing bias.
Guinea-Bissau’s opposition plans to halt the nation’s operations on Thursday in light of a disagreement regarding the expiration of President Umaro Sissoco Embalo’s term. The opposition asserts that Embalo’s mandate concludes on the aforementioned date, while the Supreme Court of Justice has determined it lasts until September 4. The situation has been exacerbated by Embalo’s announcement that neither presidential nor legislative elections will occur until November 30, further escalating tensions within a nation known for its instability.
The PAI Terra Ranka coalition, spearheaded by the former ruling PAIGC party, states, “We are going to paralyse the country completely on February 27 … Bissau will be a dead city.” This declaration underscores the deepening unrest as the government has postponed parliamentary elections originally slated for November 2024 due to so-called technical and financial challenges, thus disrupting the electoral timeline.
President Embalo, who previously served as an army general, has taken on a longstanding political deadlock in Guinea-Bissau, characterized by repeated military coups since independence in 1974. He indicated that there have been two attempts on his life during his tenure, with the most recent occurring in December 2023. Following this incident, which involved gunfire in the capital, he disbanded the opposition-led parliament, citing its inaction.
While President Embalo met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, his leadership continues to face scrutiny. Notably, he disclosed that his wife discouraged him from pursuing a second term in forthcoming elections. Meanwhile, West Africa’s regional organization, ECOWAS, intends to send a delegation to Guinea-Bissau to tackle the ongoing conflict regarding the electoral schedule, although the opposition has rejected meetings with ECOWAS representatives, labeling the mission as biased.
In summary, the political discord in Guinea-Bissau has intensified as the opposition plans to stage a nationwide shutdown in response to disagreements over the presidential mandate of Umaro Sissoco Embalo. The ongoing postponement of elections and the rejection of ECOWAS mediation further complicate the political landscape, raising concerns about potential unrest in a nation with a turbulent history of coups. The outcome of this situation remains uncertain as opposing factions clash over electoral legitimacy.
Original Source: www.usnews.com
