Guinea-Bissau: Political Turmoil as President Refuses to Step Down

Umaro Sissoco Embaló refuses to resign after his term in Guinea-Bissau expired on February 28, 2025. Domingos Simoes Pereira calls for new elections and restoration of parliament. Protests have begun urging respect for the constitution. The political climate remains tense with concerns over public order and governance. ECOWAS faces challenges in addressing the escalating crisis.

On February 28, 2025, the five-year presidential term of Umaro Sissoco Embaló officially ended, but he has refused to step down. Domingos Simoes Pereira, the leader of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), has urged Embaló to resign immediately. Pereira leads a coalition of parties that won a decisive majority in the legislative elections of 2023, yet Embaló has obstructed Pereira from forming a government.

The parliamentary term also expired, prompting Pereira to call for new presidential and legislative elections within 90 days instead of the previously announced date of November 30 by the president. Pereira emphasizes that this is in accordance with constitutional provisions. The legislature disbanded by Embaló in 2023 must urgently be reinstated, as the members would be responsible for appointing election authorities and selecting the head of the constitutional court, whose term has also expired.

Nuno Nabiam, a former prime minister and head of the second largest opposition party, API, stated that protests are inevitable until the rule of law is restored. He asserted, “Protests are necessary; matters must stabilize until constitutional order is restored. The constitution must be upheld. I firmly believe this.”

Guinean citizens residing abroad have initiated protests, urging respect for the constitution and demanding Embaló’s resignation. In Lisbon, Portugal, they mobilized under the belief that since Embaló’s term has concluded, he should resign gracefully to foster democratic progress.

Embaló has governed the West African nation under special laws for over a year and appears resolute in sidelining Pereira, whom the government accuses of corruption, while vowing not to appoint him as prime minister. Pedro Jandim, a representative of Pereira’s PAIGC in Germany, criticized the government’s indifference, stating: “We have a president who seems unconcerned about the plight of his people. Schools and hospitals are non-functional; infrastructure is failing.”

Currently, Embaló seems unwilling to relinquish power, effectively preventing other parties, except his own and handpicked individuals, from governing. A former military general, Embaló previously served as prime minister from 2016 to 2018, having transitioned from the PAIGC to form the MADEM G15 party.

Embaló has disparaged the opposition, labeling them as uninformed and recently expressed disdain for their protests, opting instead to meet with Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Interior Minister Botche Candé, one of Embaló’s close allies, threatened that the government would not tolerate protests, assuring that security forces would suppress any attempts to disrupt public order.

As the situation unfolds, Guinea-Bissau remains tense, with troops deployed across the streets amidst concerns for the impending future. The ECOWAS delegation, led by Nigerian diplomat Ambassador Bagudu Hirse, visited Bissau but withdrew after Embaló threatened to expel them prior to his trip to Russia. Bubacar Ture, head of the coalition for human rights in Guinea-Bissau, remarked that ECOWAS is unlikely to effectively resolve the ongoing crisis.

In conclusion, the political climate in Guinea-Bissau is currently characterized by instability, as President Umaro Sissoco Embaló refuses to relinquish power despite the expiration of his term. Domingos Simoes Pereira leading a coalition of parties advocates for immediate elections and restoration of constitutional governance. With protests erupting from citizens both domestically and abroad, the prospect of an escalating conflict raises concerns about the adherence to the rule of law in the country. The role of ECOWAS remains uncertain in mediating this critical situation.

Original Source: www.dw.com