Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo Seeks Re-Election After Vowing to Step Down

President Umaro Sissoco Embalo of Guinea-Bissau has announced his candidacy for a second term, contrary to earlier vows to resign, igniting debates over the constitutionality of his current term and postponed elections scheduled for November 2023.

BISSAU (Reuters) – Guinea-Bissau’s President Umaro Sissoco Embalo announced on Monday his intention to seek re-election in November, reversing his previous commitment to step down. This decision raises potential tensions regarding the conclusion of his current term, which opposition members claim expired in February, while the Supreme Court of Justice has determined it concludes on September 4.

Embalo recently returned from trips to Russia, Azerbaijan, and Hungary and stated, “I will be a candidate in my own succession.” This announcement has been met with dissatisfaction, particularly following his declaration that presidential and legislative elections would be delayed until November 30, 2023. The elections were initially scheduled for November 2024 but were postponed indefinitely due to financial and technical challenges, causing confusion regarding the electoral timeline.

The President, a 52-year-old former army general, has acknowledged the political instability in Guinea-Bissau, a nation that has faced a series of coups and unrest since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974. Embalo remarked that there had been two attempts to depose him during his presidency, with the most recent occurring in December 2023. Notably, he mentioned last year that his wife had advised him against pursuing a second term.

In summary, President Umaro Sissoco Embalo’s recent decision to run for a second term in Guinea-Bissau marks a significant shift from his previous stance to step down. This move has resulted in renewed tensions regarding the electoral process and the validity of his current term. Given the nation’s tumultuous political history, how this situation unfolds remains to be seen.

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