Guinea-Bissau’s President Embalo Declares Candidacy for Re-Election
Guinea-Bissau’s President Umaro Sissoco Embalo has declared his candidacy for re-election, confidently asserting he will win in the first round. Elections, originally set for earlier, have been postponed to November 30 due to logistical issues while political unrest continues in the country.
On Monday, Guinea-Bissau’s President Umaro Sissoco Embalo formally announced his intention to pursue re-election, amid challenges that have delayed elections until November 30. Embalo asserted, “I will be a candidate, without a doubt, and I am going to win right from the first round,” demonstrating confidence in his electoral prospects while returning from a state visit to Russia.
Embalo, who commenced his current five-year tenure on February 27, 2020, after a contentious election, faces allegations from opposition groups suggesting that his term expired recently. These claims prompted a strike organized by these entities, although the effectiveness of the protest was curtailed by the presence of security forces in the capital city of Bissau.
Guinea-Bissau, a nation with a population of approximately two million and a history marked by political turmoil since its independence in 1974, has experienced numerous coups. In December 2023, President Embalo dissolved the opposition-controlled parliament following armed confrontations that he characterized as an attempted coup. Although he initially planned to hold early legislative elections in November 2024, these have now been postponed indefinitely by presidential decree, leading to the current election date being set for November 30.
In summary, President Umaro Sissoco Embalo is actively campaigning for a second term in the upcoming elections, facing significant opposition and previous political turbulence in Guinea-Bissau. Despite challenges that have delayed electoral processes, he expresses confidence in securing victory. However, the political landscape remains fraught with instability and opposition dissent.
Original Source: newscentral.africa
