President Umaro Sissoco Embalo of Guinea-Bissau announced his candidacy for re-election, stating confidence in winning the upcoming elections set for November 30. His term is contested by opposition claims of expiration, leading to limited strikes. Guinea-Bissau faces ongoing political instability, with recent attempts to dissolve parliament and postpone elections indefinitely.
Umaro Sissoco Embalo, the President of Guinea-Bissau, announced on Monday his intention to run for re-election in November, having previously postponed the elections due to logistical and financial difficulties. Returning from a visit to Russia, he expressed confidence in winning, stating, “I will be a candidate, without a doubt, and I am going to win right from the first round.”
Embalo was inaugurated for a five-year term on February 27, 2020, following a contentious election process. He is currently confronted with opposition claims that his term expired as of last Thursday, which prompted a strike led by oppositional factions. However, the effectiveness of this strike was minimized due to the deployment of security forces in Bissau.
Guinea-Bissau, a former Portuguese colony with an estimated population of two million, has experienced chronic political instability, including several coups since gaining independence in 1974. In December 2023, amidst armed confrontations, Embalo dissolved the opposition-led parliament, labeling the incident as an attempted coup. Early legislative elections were initially set for November 2024 but have now been postponed indefinitely by presidential decree. The newly scheduled elections will occur on November 30.
In summary, President Umaro Sissoco Embalo has officially declared his candidacy for re-election in the face of a turbulent political landscape in Guinea-Bissau. His assertions of confidence in winning the elections highlight both personal ambition and the challenges posed by opposition claims. As the country prepares for the elections on November 30, the political dynamics remain tense and fluid.
Original Source: newscentral.africa
