By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The military junta in Guinea-Bissau has set Dec. 6 as date for new elections following its takeover late last year, a statement by the junta’s leader on Wednesday says.
Necessary conditions for holding free, fair and transparent elections had been met, says presidential decree by the head of junta, Gen. Horta Inta-a. It added that the legislative and presidential elections would be held same day.
Army officers in Guinea-Bissau, who called themselves the Military High Command, deposed President Umaro Sissoco Embalo on November 26, installing Major-General Horta Inta-a as interim President a day after.
It came ahead of final declaration in an election in which Embaló and the opposition candidate, Fernando Dias da Costa claimed victory.
Guinea-Bissau, one of the world’s poorest countries, has experienced coups and attempted coups since its independence from Portugal over 50 years ago, including a coup attempt last October.
The military-led government had adopted a 12-month transitional charter which disqualifies the interim leader and the Prime Minister from contesting in the December election.
According to the charter, the Military High Command will preside over legal and institutional reforms, including drafting revisions to the suspended constitution, setting up a new Constitutional Court, changing regulations for political parties and overseeing the appointment of new electoral officials.
The country of 2.2 million people is known as a hub for drug trafficking between Latin America and Europe, a trend that experts say has fueled its political crises.
