Guinea-Bissau is in an institutional crisis as President Umaro Sissoco Embaló refuses to resign despite the expiration of his term on February 28, 2025. Domingos Simões Pereira demands immediate elections and the reconvening of parliament. Public protests are emerging amidst fears and economic distress, while ECOWAS mediation has proven ineffective against Embaló’s defiance.
Guinea-Bissau is currently facing an institutional crisis as President Umaro Sissoco Embaló remains in office beyond the expiration of his five-year term on February 28, 2025. Embaló’s refusal to resign has prompted Domingos Simões Pereira, the leader of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), to demand his immediate departure. Pereira’s coalition won the parliamentary elections in 2023, yet Embaló has consistently obstructed his ability to form a government.
With the parliamentary term also expired, Pereira has called for immediate presidential and parliamentary elections within 90 days, rather than the president’s suggested timeline of November 30. He emphasizes, “The constitution requires this. Before that, the parliament, which the president dissolved in December 2023, must be urgently reconvened.” This reconvened parliament would be responsible for appointing new members to the National Election Commission and electing a president for the Constitutional Court, both of whose mandates have lapsed.
Embaló has governed by decree for over a year, adopting a strategy aimed at silencing Pereira, who faces corruption allegations. His continued presidency appears to aim at consolidating power by preventing other political entities from participating in governance. Embaló, a former brigadier general, had previously served as Guinea-Bissau’s prime minister.
In response to the political instability, calls for protests and strikes are increasing both domestically and among expatriate communities, particularly in Portugal. Nuno Nabiam, a former prime minister, noted that protest actions are inevitable until constitutional order is restored. However, Embaló has dismissed the opposition as “incompetent,” even as tensions escalate in the capital, with heightened military presence leading to public fears.
Although there have been limited demonstrations to date, mostly among expatriates, residents in Guinea-Bissau are deterred by the increased security presence and the observance of Ramadan. Protesters abroad assert their demand for constitutional respect and accountability from their government. Public sentiment is compounded by skepticism regarding Embaló’s foreign engagements, particularly following his visit to Russia, where he reportedly received backing from President Putin.
Attempts by ECOWAS to mediate the situation have proven unsuccessful, with accusations of Embaló threatening to expel the delegation from the country. Lawyer Bubacar Turé remarked on ECOWAS’s diminished capacity to enforce its mandates, reflecting a troubling stagnation in resolving the ongoing political crisis for Guinea-Bissau.
In conclusion, Guinea-Bissau is entrenched in a political crisis marked by President Umaro Sissoco Embaló’s refusal to vacate his office following the expiration of his term. Domingos Simões Pereira calls for urgent elections, while protests loom amid increasing public dissatisfaction and intimidation against demonstrations. The failure of ECOWAS to effectively mediate highlights the precarious state of governance and democracy in the nation, where citizens grapple with profound economic difficulties and a paralyzed political system.
Original Source: www.dw.com
