Guinea-Bissau’s President Umaro Sissoco Embalo plans to run for re-election in elections postponed to November due to logistical issues. Despite opposition claims regarding the expiration of his term, he remains confident in winning a second term. His leadership has seen political tension, including a dissolved parliament after armed clashes.
Umaro Sissoco Embalo, President of Guinea-Bissau, announced his intention to run for re-election in the upcoming elections, which have been postponed to November due to logistical and financial issues. He expressed confidence in his ability to secure victory in the first round, stating to an AFP correspondent, “I will be a candidate, without a doubt, and I am going to win right from the first round.”
After taking office on February 27, 2020, amidst controversy following the election, President Embalo faces opposition claims that his term expired recently. This contention has sparked a strike organized by opposition groups, although the deployment of security forces in the capital, Bissau, mitigated the strike’s effects. Guinea-Bissau, a former Portuguese colony with roughly two million residents, has experienced significant political instability, marked by numerous coups since its 1974 independence.
In December 2023, President Embalo dissolved the parliament, controlled by the opposition, following armed confrontations he characterized as an attempted coup. Although he initially planned to hold early legislative elections in 2024, these were postponed indefinitely through a presidential decree. The new date for the elections has been set to November 30, 2024.
In summary, President Umaro Sissoco Embalo has declared his candidacy for re-election amid ongoing political turmoil in Guinea-Bissau. The elections, originally scheduled for early 2024, have been postponed to November 30 due to various challenges. Embalo’s leadership has been marked by significant opposition and controversy, reflecting the nation’s enduring struggles with stability.
Original Source: newscentral.africa
