Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo Announces Bid for Second Term
Guinea-Bissau’s President Umaro Sissoco Embalo will run for a second term in November, reversing his earlier pledge to step down. His announcement may escalate tensions with the opposition regarding the end of his current term and postponed elections, originally slated for November 2024 but moved to November 30 this year.
President Umaro Sissoco Embalo of Guinea-Bissau announced on Monday his intention to seek a second term in November, reversing his previous commitment to step down. This decision raises concerns regarding the timeline of his current term and the postponement of elections. Following a recent trip to Russia, Azerbaijan, and Hungary, Embalo declared to reporters: “I will be a candidate in my own succession.”
Embalos’s announcement has heightened tensions with the political opposition regarding the expiration of his five-year term, which commenced in 2020. The opposition contends that his term concluded in February, while the Supreme Court of Justice maintains that it ends on September 4. Additionally, Embalo’s announcement that presidential and legislative elections are scheduled for November 30 has prompted discontent, as these elections were initially planned for November 2024 but were delayed due to alleged technical and financial difficulties.
Embalos stated, “I will talk to the political parties first about the forthcoming elections, and then I will issue a presidential decree” regarding the elections. As a former army general, Embalo has navigated a politically unstable environment in Guinea-Bissau, which has experienced ongoing coups since gaining independence in 1974. He has asserted that there were two attempts to unseat him during his presidency, the most recent occurring in December 2023.
Despite previously indicating that his wife had persuaded him against seeking re-election, Embalo’s recent pronouncement signals a potential shift in his political strategy. This development may further complicate the already volatile political climate in Guinea-Bissau as the date for the presidential elections approaches.
In summary, President Umaro Sissoco Embalo’s decision to run for a second term contradicts earlier promises to step down, contributing to an atmosphere of political uncertainty in Guinea-Bissau. With the opposition disputing the conclusion of his current term and elections delayed, tensions are likely to escalate. Embalo’s leadership amidst coup attempts further complicates the political landscape as the electoral period nears.
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