By Emmanuel Nduka
Guinea-Bissau’s President Umaro Sissoco Embalo has reversed his earlier decision to step down, announcing plans to run for a second term in November.
This unexpected move has raised tensions in the political landscape of the coup-prone West African country.
Speaking at the airport upon his return from a trip to Russia, Azerbaijan, and Hungary, Embalo declared, “I will be a candidate in my own succession,” signaling his intent to extend his leadership beyond his current five-year term, which began in 2020.
The announcement comes as the opposition disputes the duration of his term, claiming it ended in February, while the country’s Supreme Court has ruled that his mandate officially expires on September 4.
The situation has only intensified with Embalo’s decision to delay the presidential and legislative elections until November 30, 2024. Originally scheduled for 2024, the parliamentary elections were postponed indefinitely due to financial and technical challenges.
Embalo, a 52-year-old former army general, inherited a country plagued by political instability and frequent coup attempts since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974. His presidency has already witnessed two attempted coups, the latest occurring in December 2023.
Despite his earlier statements that his wife had discouraged him from seeking another term, Embalo now appears determined to continue his leadership, further complicating the nation’s fragile political situation.
“I will first engage with political parties on the upcoming elections, then issue a presidential decree,” he said late Monday, revealing his next steps in navigating the current political turmoil.
