Umaro Sissoco Embaló refuses to step down after his presidential term ended on February 28, 2025. Domingos Simoes Pereira calls for new elections and restoration of the parliament. Protests ensue amid escalating tensions, military presence, and threats against dissent. The situation in Guinea-Bissau remains volatile, with uncertainty about political stability and the role of ECOWAS.
On February 28, 2025, the five-year presidential term of Umaro Sissoco Embaló ended, yet he has refused to relinquish power. Domingos Simoes Pereira, the leader of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), has demanded that Embaló step down immediately. Pereira has been leading a coalition of parties that won a significant majority in the 2023 parliamentary elections, but since then, Embaló has obstructed Pereira’s efforts to form a government.
The parliamentary term has also concluded, prompting Pereira to call for new presidential and legislative elections to be held within 90 days, opposing Embaló’s declaration of November 30 as the election date. Pereira asserted that the constitution mandates the swift restoration of the assembly that Embaló dissolved in 2023, as this assembly would select the electoral commission and appoint the new constitutional court president.
Nuno Nabiam, former Prime Minister and head of the second-largest opposition party API, stated that protests are essential until the rule of law returns. He emphasized, “Protests are inevitable. Issues must stabilize until the legal framework is restored. The constitution must be upheld. I firmly believe this.” Many expatriate Guineans in Lisbon are participating in similar protests, demanding that Embaló honor the constitution and resign with dignity to advance democracy.
Embaló has been governing Guinea-Bissau utilizing special powers for over a year and demonstrates intentions to sideline Pereira, as his government has accused the opposition leader of corruption and vowed he would not be appointed as Prime Minister. Pedro Jandim, PAIGC’s representative in Germany, criticized Embaló, stating, “We have a president who neglects the issues affecting his people at home, focusing solely on external matters. Schools and hospitals are non-operational; nothing functions in Guinea-Bissau.”
As it stands, Embaló appears determined to maintain power, excluding rival parties and appointing individuals of his choosing within the government. Embaló, a former military general, previously served as Prime Minister from 2016 to 2018 and was initially a member of the PAIGC before defecting to the MADEM G15 party. He has disparaged opposition figures as uninformed and recently visited Vladimir Putin in Moscow, showcasing his outside alliances.
Interior Minister Botche Candé, a key ally of Embaló, has threatened that the government will not tolerate any protests, stating that security forces would suppress any attempts to disrupt public order. The current situation in Guinea-Bissau is tense, with military forces deployed on the streets, and citizens are apprehensive about future developments. The ECOWAS delegation, led by Nigerian diplomat Ambassador Bagudu Hirse, visited Bissau but retreated after Embaló threatened to expel them prior to his trip to Russia. Bubacar Ture, leader of a coalition of human rights organizations in Guinea-Bissau, expressed skepticism regarding ECOWAS’s potential to effect change in the ongoing crisis.
The political landscape in Guinea-Bissau remains precarious as President Umaro Sissoco Embaló resists calls to resign after his term expired. Domingos Simoes Pereira and others demand new elections and the restoration of the parliamentary assembly. Tensions rise with ongoing protests, military presence in public areas, and a defiance against potential interventions by ECOWAS, indicating a need for urgent resolution to the political impasse.
Original Source: www.dw.com
