Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo Announces 2023 Re-Election Bid
Umaro Sissoco Embalo, President of Guinea-Bissau, is running for a second term in November, contradicting his earlier promise to step down. This has led to disputes with the opposition regarding the duration of his current term and delayed elections, which are now set for November 30. He is expected to engage political parties before issuing a presidential decree about the elections.
Umaro Sissoco Embalo, the President of Guinea-Bissau, announced on Monday his candidacy for a second term in the presidential election slated for November. This announcement contradicts his previous promise to step down, potentially creating political tensions regarding the end of his term and the delay of elections. Supporting this, he stated, “I will be a candidate in my own succession” after returning from visits in Russia, Azerbaijan, and Hungary.
The political landscape in Guinea-Bissau has been complex, with Embalo conflicting with opposition groups over the duration of his current five-year term, which started in 2020. The opposition claims his term should have ended in February, while the Supreme Court of Justice contests this, specifying a September 4 end date. Additionally, mounting dissatisfaction arises from Embalo’s postponement of presidential and legislative elections to November 30, initially planned for 2024.
Embalo emphasized the need for dialogue with political parties regarding the upcoming elections before making any official announcements, asserting, “I will talk to the political parties first about the forthcoming elections, and then I will issue a presidential decree.” At 52, Embalo, a former army general, has faced challenges from both internal and external pressures, mentioning two attempts to unseat him since he took power.
In a twist, Embalo revealed that he was previously dissuaded from seeking a second term by his wife, demonstrating the personal and political complexities he navigates in his leadership role amid Guinea-Bissau’s turbulent political history marked by coups since its independence in 1974.
President Umaro Sissoco Embalo’s decision to run for re-election, reversing his earlier stance on stepping down, raises concerns over the stability of Guinea-Bissau’s political environment. His administration faces scrutiny over electoral timelines and governance, potentially deepening existing tensions with opposition factions. As he prepares for elections, the political landscape remains fraught with uncertainty.
Original Source: www.thestar.com.my
