Guinea-Bissau’s President Embalo Announces Intent to Seek Re-Election
President Umaro Sissoco Embalo of Guinea-Bissau has announced his candidacy for re-election amid political unrest. He confidently declared his intention to secure victory in the upcoming elections, which have been postponed to November. The opposition’s claims regarding the expiration of his term have led to protests, although security forces limited their impact. Embalo dissolved the parliament after clashes in December 2023 and postponed legislative elections indefinitely.
President Umaro Sissoco Embalo of Guinea-Bissau announced on Monday his intention to run for re-election in the forthcoming elections, which have been rescheduled for November due to logistical and financial issues. During his return from a state visit to Russia, he expressed confidence in his candidacy, stating, “I will be a candidate, without a doubt, and I am going to win right from the first round.”
Embalo was inaugurated for a five-year term on February 27, 2020, amidst a contentious electoral process. He currently faces opposition claims asserting that his term concluded last Thursday, which incited a strike organized by rival groups. Nevertheless, security forces in Bissau managed to mitigate the strike’s effects on the city.
As a nation with a tumultuous political history rooted in instability since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974, Guinea-Bissau has experienced numerous coups. Following violent clashes in December 2023, Embalo dissolved the opposition-controlled parliament, labeling the events as an attempted coup. Although he initially planned to hold early legislative elections in November 2024, he subsequently indefinitely postponed them through a presidential decree, with the new election date set for November 30.
In conclusion, President Umaro Sissoco Embalo has declared his candidacy for re-election in Guinea-Bissau, amid claims from the opposition regarding the expiration of his term. His confidence was clear as he stated his intention to secure victory in the first round of elections. Despite the nation’s ongoing political turmoil and the postponement of legislative elections, Embalo remains resolute in his leadership ambitions.
Original Source: newscentral.africa
