Guinea-Bissau faces an institutional crisis as President Umaro Sissoco Embaló refuses to resign after his term expired on February 28, 2025. Domingos Simões Pereira, leading a coalition with a parliamentary majority, demands immediate elections. Public unrest simmers amidst an apathetic citizenry due to economic hardship. ECOWAS mediation efforts have largely failed, leaving the political landscape uncertain.
Guinea-Bissau is experiencing an institutional crisis as President Umaro Sissoco Embaló remains in power despite the expiration of his five-year term on February 28, 2025. Domingos Simões Pereira, leader of the PAIGC, insists that Embaló must resign immediately, as he leads a coalition that previously secured an absolute majority in the 2023 parliamentary elections. Embaló’s refusal to allow Pereira to form a government has compounded the political tensions in the nation.
With the parliamentary term having lapsed as well, Pereira calls for fresh presidential and parliamentary elections within 90 days, contrasting Embaló’s proposed timeline of November 30. Pereira asserts, “The constitution requires this. Before that, the parliament, which the president dissolved in December 2023, must be urgently reconvened.” He emphasizes that this legislative body is crucial for appointing members of the National Election Commission and electing the president of the Constitutional Court.
Currently, Embaló has been ruling by decree for over a year, seemingly aiming to halt any political participation by opponents. Observers note that he appears determined to retain power indefinitely, having previously switched allegiance from the PAIGC to the breakaway MADEM G15 group. Amidst a deepening economic crisis, the citizenry’s response has been muted; nevertheless, opposition calls for protests are intensifying. Nuno Nabiam, former prime minister and leader of the API, believes disturbances are unavoidable if constitutional order is not reinstated.
Embaló, dismissing critics as “incompetent,” visited Vladimir Putin in Moscow, which has raised further concerns among citizens. Meanwhile, Interior Minister Botche Candé warned against any demonstrations, stating security forces would suppress actions aimed at disrupting public order. Bubacar Turé of the Human Rights League reported widespread tension, noting a heavy military presence in Bissau contributes to public anxiety.
Presently, significant protests are largely restricted to expatriate communities abroad, such as in Lisbon, Portugal, where demonstrators echoed support for democracy and constitutional respect. Citizens back home grow restless as the president’s overseas engagements heighten preexisting frustrations over domestic issues.
High-level mediation efforts by ECOWAS have faltered, with accusations that Embaló threatened the delegation shortly before his trip to Russia, further eroding prospects for a diplomatic resolution. Bubacar Turé critiques ECOWAS’s current ineffectiveness in enforcing political rules, compounding the crisis in the nation.
The political situation in Guinea-Bissau highlights the ongoing power struggle as President Umaro Sissoco Embaló clings to authority despite the expiration of his term. Domingos Simões Pereira and his coalition, which won the last parliamentary elections, advocate for compliance with constitutional mandates to restore order. Calls for domestic and expatriate protests signal a growing unrest among the populace, exacerbated by an ineffective response from ECOWAS. The crisis persists as hopes for a resolution remain dim.
Original Source: www.dw.com
