Guinea-Bissau’s opposition plans to paralyze the country amid a row over President Umaro Sissoco Embalo’s term expiry, claiming it ends on February 27, contrary to a Supreme Court ruling. The postponement of elections has heightened tensions, with past coup attempts also affecting stability. Dialogue with ECOWAS has been hindered due to accusations of bias from the opposition.
In Guinea-Bissau, the opposition has announced plans to effectively halt the nation on Thursday amid controversy regarding the expiration of President Umaro Sissoco Embalo’s five-year mandate. Opposition leaders contend that Embalo’s term concludes on Thursday, contradicting the Guinea-Bissau Supreme Court of Justice’s declaration of an end date on September 4. Elevated tensions arose when Embalo stated that presidential and legislative elections would be postponed until November 30, igniting fears of unrest in a nation marked by a history of military coups.
The opposition coalition, PAI Terra Ranka and Cabaz Garandi, declared, “We are going to paralyse the country completely on February 27 … Bissau will be a dead city.” Additionally, the government indefinitely postponed parliamentary elections initially set for November 2024, citing financial and technical challenges, thereby confounding the electoral timeline. Embalo, a former army general, inherited a troubled political landscape, having faced two coup attempts during his tenure, the most recent being in December 2023, which resulted in the dissolution of the opposition-controlled parliament due to accusations of inaction.
While Embalo engaged in talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, he previously mentioned that his wife had advised him against seeking a second term. In light of the ongoing electoral disputes, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced plans to deploy a mission to Guinea-Bissau to facilitate conflict resolution regarding the political schedule. The opposition, however, has refused to engage with ECOWAS representatives, citing bias in the mission’s objectives.
In summary, the political situation in Guinea-Bissau is escalating, with the opposition planning nationwide protests in response to disputes concerning the electoral calendar. President Umaro Sissoco Embalo’s term expiration is contested, and the postponement of elections further complicates the scenario. The government’s interactions with ECOWAS and the opposition’s refusal to meet show the complexities involved in navigating Guinea-Bissau’s political landscape.
Original Source: www.usnews.com
