Guinea-Bissau: President Embalo’s Refusal to Resign Sparks Protests and Political Turmoil

Umaro Sissoco Embalo refuses to step down after his term expired on February 28, 2025. Domingos Simoes Pereira demands immediate elections and has formed a coalition to challenge Embalo. Protests have erupted, both in Guinea-Bissau and internationally, as calls for adherence to the constitution grow stronger. ECOWAS’s influence in resolving the crisis remains in question.

On February 28, 2025, the five-year presidential term of Umaro Sissoco Embalo concluded; however, he refused to step down legally. Domingos Simoes Pereira, leader of the African Independence Party of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), has emphasized that Embalo must resign without delay. Pereira is at the helm of a coalition formed from the parties that won the 2023 parliamentary elections by a significant majority.

The parliamentary term also lapsed, prompting Pereira to call for new presidential and legislative elections within 90 days, as opposed to the November 30 date set by the president. He asserted that this is in accordance with the constitutional provisions and stressed the urgency of restoring the parliament, which Embalo dissolved in 2023. Pereira stated that this parliament would have the responsibility of appointing election authorities and selecting a constitutional court president whose term has likewise expired.

Nuno Nabiam, a former prime minister and leader of the second-largest opposition party, API, expressed a firm belief that protests are inevitable until lawful governance is restored. He stated, “Protests are necessary. Matters must steadfastly return to normal until the rule of law is reinstated. The constitution must be upheld. I believe this.”

Demonstrations have also been reported from Guineans abroad, particularly in Lisbon, Portugal, where they called for adherence to constitutional authority and for Embalo to resign honorably to promote democratic progress. Embalo has exercised extraordinary powers for over a year, seemingly intent on undermining Pereira, with accusations of corruption against his government, vowing not to appoint Pereira as prime minister.

Pedro Jandim, a representative of the PAIGC party in Germany, remarked on the disarray stating: “We have a president indifferent to the problems faced by his people, focusing solely on external matters. Schools and hospitals are non-functional. Nothing works in Guinea-Bissau.” Amid this turmoil, Embalo seeks to maintain his presidency indefinitely while suppressing opposition and appointing only loyal individuals to his government.

Embalo, a former military general who served as prime minister between 2016 and 2018, had previously been a member of the PAIGC before shifting to the breakaway MADEM G15 party. He openly criticized opposition forces as uninformed, opting to meet with Vladimir Putin in Moscow instead. Interior Minister Botche Candé, an ally of Embalo, threatened that the government would not tolerate any protests, asserting that security forces would quell any attempts to disrupt order in the country.

Currently, Guinea-Bissau is in a state of unrest, with troops deployed on the streets as the populace remains anxious about potential developments. An ECOWAS delegation led by Nigerian diplomat Ambassador Bagudu Hirse visited Bissau, but their presence was short-lived due to Embalo’s threats of expulsion before he traveled to Russia. Bubacar Ture, leader of the coalition of human rights organizations in Guinea-Bissau, expressed skepticism about ECOWAS’s ability to resolve the ongoing crisis.

In summary, the political situation in Guinea-Bissau remains tense as President Umaro Sissoco Embalo continues to refuse to relinquish power upon the expiration of his term. Following a coalition led by Domingos Simoes Pereira, there are calls for immediate elections to restore democratic governance. Meanwhile, protests are occurring both domestically and among the diaspora, signaling a widespread demand for political accountability and adherence to constitutional norms. The involvement of ECOWAS appears uncertain, leaving the future of governance in Guinea-Bissau precarious at best.

Original Source: www.dw.com