President Umaro Sissoco Embalo is seeking a second term in Guinea-Bissau amid claims of illegitimacy from the opposition. The ECOWAS delegation has left under duress, while the opposition warns of protests. Embalo’s term is contested, raising tensions in a nation with a history of coups.
Umaro Sissoco Embalo, President of Guinea-Bissau, has declared his intention to seek a second presidential term in November, despite contentious opposition claims regarding his legitimacy as president. A delegation from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), aimed at mitigating Guinea-Bissau’s political crisis, recently withdrew after expressing concerns over potential deportation.
Embalo, who dissolved the opposition-led parliament in late 2023, reaffirmed his candidacy upon returning from visits to Russia, Azerbaijan, and Hungary. According to Guinea-Bissau’s constitution, the presidential term lasts five years, with one possibility for renewal, thereby allowing Embalo to seek reelection. However, the validity of his first term remains disputed by the opposition, which argues that it has already concluded.
The announcement poses a threat to the already fragile stability of Guinea-Bissau, a nation that has faced multiple coups since its independence over five decades ago. Embalo was elected on November 24, 2019, and officially took office on February 27, 2020, but his election results were contested, and the Supreme Court only recognized his win on September 4, 2020.
The opposition insists that Embalo’s term should have ended in February, aligning with the Supreme Court ruling to extend it until September 4. He is currently set to hold elections on November 30, with stated intentions to serve until then, yet the opposition has not recognized him as president since last week. Protest actions and strikes have been warned by opposition leaders, although they await the outcomes of the ECOWAS mission.
Embalo has reported enduring two attempted coups during his presidency. Following the latest incident in December 2023, which involved armed conflict between national and presidential guards, he proceeded to dissolve the opposition-dominated parliament, citing legislative inaction as the rationale for this decision.
In summary, President Umaro Sissoco Embalo of Guinea-Bissau is pursuing a second term amidst rising political tensions and opposition discontent regarding his legitimacy. The situation is further complicated by the withdrawal of ECOWAS and threats of unrest from opposition factions. Embalo’s presidency has been characterized by instability and earlier coup attempts, leaving the political landscape uncertain as elections approach.
Original Source: www.tvcnews.tv
