Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo Seeks Second Term, Reversing Pledge to Resign
Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo announces his candidacy for a second term in the November elections, reversing previous pledges to step down. This announcement raises concerns over political tensions and election delays. His current term’s expiration date is disputed between himself, the opposition, and the Supreme Court.
Umaro Sissoco Embalo, the President of Guinea-Bissau, has declared his intention to run for a second term in the upcoming November elections, reversing his previous commitments to step aside. His announcement has raised concerns about potential unrest in the volatile political landscape of Guinea-Bissau, particularly surrounding the timing of his current term’s expiration and the subsequent postponement of elections.
Following visits to Russia, Azerbaijan, and Hungary, Embalo stated to reporters at an airport that he “will be a candidate in my own succession.” This statement has intensified the ongoing conflict with the opposition regarding when his current five-year term, which started in 2020, officially concludes. While the opposition claims it ended in February, the Supreme Court of Justice has ruled that it will conclude on September 4.
Adding to the political tension, Embalo announced that both presidential and legislative elections would now take place on November 30, 2025. These elections were originally set for November 2024 but were postponed indefinitely due to technical and financial issues, creating uncertainty within the electoral timeline.
“I will talk to the political parties first about the forthcoming elections, and then I will issue a presidential decree,” Embalo remarked in an address late Monday. The 52-year-old president, a former army general, faces significant challenges stemming from a historical context of political instability marked by multiple coups since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974.
Embalo, who has previously stated that his wife persuaded him against seeking a second term, has claimed that two coup attempts have been made against him during his presidency, the recent one occurring in December 2023. Amidst such turbulence, the political climate in Guinea-Bissau remains deeply unsettled.
In summary, Guinea-Bissau’s President Umaro Sissoco Embalo has announced he will seek a second term, contradicting earlier commitments to relinquish power. This decision, amid disputes regarding term lengths and postponed elections, signals potential political unrest. The next elections are now set for November 30, 2025, following significant delays and concerns over the country’s governance amidst a history of coups and instability.
Original Source: www.usnews.com
