Guinea-Bissau is experiencing a political crisis as President Umaro Sissoco Embaló remains in power after his term expired on February 28, 2025. Opposition leader Domingos Simões Pereira demands immediate elections and reconvening of parliament, which Embaló dissolved. Public dissent is tempered by economic challenges, while international diplomatic efforts by ECOWAS have failed to achieve resolution.
Guinea-Bissau is facing an institutional crisis as President Umaro Sissoco Embaló remains in power despite his five-year term expiring on February 28, 2025. Domingos Simões Pereira, leader of the PAIGC, insists that Embaló must relinquish his position immediately. Pereira’s coalition secured an absolute majority in the 2023 parliamentary elections, yet Embaló has obstructed the formation of a government.
The parliament’s four-year term has also expired, which leads Pereira to advocate for new elections, both presidential and parliamentary, to take place within 90 days, rather than on the November 30 date suggested by Embaló. Pereira argues, “The constitution requires this. Before that, the parliament, which the president dissolved in December 2023, must be urgently reconvened.”
Pereira emphasizes the need for the parliament to appoint members of the National Election Commission and elect a new president for the Constitutional Court. This perspective is shared by the majority of political parties, legal experts, and civil society representatives in Guinea-Bissau.
Embaló has governed Guinea-Bissau by decree for over a year, largely aiming to thwart the appointment of Pereira as prime minister due to allegations of corruption. His intention appears to be the consolidation of power, restricting any external political influence.
The public response includes calls for protests, although many citizens are suffering from a severe economic crisis, which has led to increasing apathy. Nuno Nabiam, leader of the opposition party API, remarks that protests will proceed until constitutional order is restored, despite Embaló labeling the opposition as “incompetent.”
Currently, large-scale demonstrations have not materialized within Guinea-Bissau due to the visible presence of security forces and the commencement of Ramadan. Nonetheless, expatriate communities, such as in Lisbon, are protesting with slogans demanding respect for their constitutional law.
The president’s international engagements include a recent visit to Moscow, raising questions regarding his domestic agenda. A protester in Lisbon noted, “We demand respect for the constitution in our homeland.” Another critic remarked on Embaló’s excessive travels abroad, saying,
“We have a president who doesn’t care about the problems in his own country.”
Efforts for resolution by a high-level ECOWAS delegation have proven ineffective, as Embaló allegedly threatened expulsion of the mediation team prior to his trip to Russia. Observers suggest that ECOWAS’s current capabilities are insufficient to enforce necessary changes.
The situation in Guinea-Bissau remains critical as President Umaro Sissoco Embaló persists in power post-term expiration, ignoring calls for a transition. Domingos Simões Pereira, leading the opposition, is pushing for urgent elections while much of the populace suffers from apathy due to economic hardships. Although limited demonstrations have occurred abroad, the hopes for resolution through ECOWAS mediation appear dim as diplomatic efforts are undermined by Embaló’s actions.
Original Source: www.dw.com
