President Umaro Sissoco Embalo of Guinea-Bissau announced his candidacy for a second term in elections postponed to November. He emphasized his confidence in winning the election despite opposition claims that his term expired. The nation continues to grapple with political instability, highlighted by recent conflicts and legislative uncertainties.
Umaro Sissoco Embalo, President of Guinea-Bissau, announced on Monday his intention to run for re-election in the upcoming elections, which have been rescheduled to November due to financial and logistical issues. Embalo 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,” following his return from a diplomatic trip to Russia.
Embalo, who assumed office on February 27, 2020, amidst a contentious electoral process, faces assertions from opposition factions claiming that his term lapsed last Thursday. This dispute instigated a strike organized by opposition groups; nonetheless, security forces managed to suppress the demonstration in Bissau, limiting its effectiveness.
Guinea-Bissau, a nation with a historical backdrop of political turbulence, has a population of approximately two million and has experienced multiple coups since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974. In response to an attempted coup characterized by armed conflicts in December 2023, Embalo disbanded the opposition-led parliament, a move he justified on grounds of national security.
Initially, early legislative elections were slated for November 2024, but Embalo subsequently postponed these elections indefinitely through a presidential decree. The revised date for the elections is now set for November 30.
Umaro Sissoco Embalo’s announcement to run for re-election highlights the ongoing political challenges in Guinea-Bissau, marked by instability and contention over electoral legitimacy. Despite facing opposition claims regarding the expiration of his term, he remains resolute in securing a second term, with national legislative elections now rescheduled for late November.
Original Source: newscentral.africa
