By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo has appointed a former finance minister, Geraldo Martins as the country’s next Prime Minister.
This follows the legislative elections in the West African state that ushered in power-sharing, allowing the Prime Minister to head the government.
He is to take over from Nuno Gomes Nabiam, who has been in office since 2020.
A coalition led by the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) won 54 out of 102 seats in the June election, defeating Embalo’s party, Madem G15, which picked up 29.
In a decree published by his office late Monday on social media, the President named Martins, who is PAIGC’s deputy leader the next Prime Minister after he was nominated by the coalition.
Guinea-Bissau, a former Portuguese colony with a population of about two million people, has a history of political instability.
Embalo had in May 2022 dissolved parliament after falling out with lawmakers.
But his electoral gamble failed, as voters turned to in support of PAIGC, the country’s historic ruling party.
The President’s Madem G15 alliance suffered a setback, arising from internal crisis and many voters were concerned about the economy, battered by falling price of cashew nuts, a key source of income.
A failed attempt to oust Embalo took place in February 2022.
