Guinea-Bissau’s President Umaro Sissoco Embalo announced his candidacy for re-election, with elections now set for November 30 due to delays. He faces claims of an expired term from opponents, leading to protests. The country’s history of political instability continues to influence current events following his recent dissolution of parliament.

Umaro Sissoco Embalo, the President of Guinea-Bissau, announced his intention to run for a second term in elections that have been postponed to November due to logistical and financial issues. Upon returning from a state visit to Russia, he declared, “I will be a candidate, without a doubt, and I am going to win right from the first round.” Embalo was initially sworn in for a five-year term on February 27, 2020, amid a controversial election process.

Despite his bold declaration, Embalo faces opposition claims asserting that his term expired last Thursday, which sparked a strike organized by opposition groups. However, security forces were deployed in Bissau to mitigate the strike’s impact and maintain order. Founded as a former Portuguese colony, Guinea-Bissau, with a population nearing two million, has a history of political instability marked by a series of coups since its independence in 1974.

In December 2023, following armed clashes that he attributed to an attempted coup, President Embalo dissolved the opposition-controlled parliament. He had initially set early legislative elections for November 2024 but later indefinitely postponed them via presidential decree. Currently, the elections are now scheduled for November 30, 2024.

In summary, President Umaro Sissoco Embalo is actively campaigning for re-election amidst significant political challenges. He asserts his confidence in winning the upcoming election, although his administration faces opposition regarding the legitimacy of his current term. The political landscape remains fraught with instability as Guinea-Bissau prepares for its postponed elections.

Original Source: newscentral.africa