Umaro Sissoco Embalo, President of Guinea-Bissau, has decided to run for a second term in November, contradicting earlier pledges to step down. His term’s end is disputed, and the election schedule faces delays, prompting criticism. Embalo’s decision may heighten political tensions in a country already known for instability and coups.
Guinea-Bissau’s President Umaro Sissoco Embalo announced he will run for a second term in the upcoming November elections, reversing his earlier promise to step down. During an airport press conference following his visits to Russia, Azerbaijan, and Hungary, he stated, “I will be a candidate in my own succession.” This decision may exacerbate tensions related to his current term’s end and delayed elections.
The political opposition claims that Embalo’s current five-year term, which began in 2020, expired in late February, while the Supreme Court of Justice has determined it concludes on September 4, 2025. Additionally, there is growing discontent over the postponement of presidential and legislative elections, now scheduled for November 30, 2024, citing technical and financial issues that disrupted the electoral timeline.
Embalos’s plans include discussions with political parties before issuing a presidential decree regarding the upcoming elections. As a former army general, he has navigated a complex political environment characterized by coups and instability in Guinea-Bissau since its independence in 1974. He reported that there had been two attempted coups during his presidency.
Previously, Embalo indicated that his wife had persuaded him against seeking another term. His announcement could lead to unrest in a nation dealing with significant political challenges and unrest that historically accompanies leadership transitions in the region.
President Umaro Sissoco Embalo’s declaration to seek re-election marks a significant deviation from his previous commitments to step down. With various interpretations surrounding the end of his current term, the ambiguity may further aggravate tensions with the political opposition. His administration’s challenges, including postponed elections and coup attempts, underscore the complex political landscape of Guinea-Bissau.
Original Source: eastleighvoice.co.ke
