Key points:
- Embalo confirms he will run for re-election in November
- Election delay sparks tensions with political opposition
- Disputes over term limits add uncertainty to the vote
GUINEA-BISSAU’S President Umaro Sissoco Embalo has confirmed his bid for re-election in November 2024, reversing his earlier decision to step down. The announcement, made on Monday after his return from a trip to Russia, Azerbaijan, and Hungary, has intensified political tensions in the coup-prone West African nation.
‘I will be a candidate in my own succession,’ Embalo told reporters at the airport, signalling his intent to extend his leadership for another five-year term.
Election timeline sparks controversy
Embalo’s decision to seek re-election comes amid ongoing disputes over when his current term officially ends. While he took office in 2020, opposition groups argue that his mandate expired at the end of February 2025. However, Guinea-Bissau’s Supreme Court of Justice has ruled that his term officially concludes on September 4.
The election timeline has been a source of political contention, particularly after Embalo postponed both the presidential and legislative elections until November 30, 2024. Initially scheduled for November, parliamentary polls were delayed indefinitely due to technical and financial challenges, further scrambling the country’s electoral calendar.
‘I will talk to the political parties first about the forthcoming elections, and then I will issue a presidential decree,’ Embalo stated late on Monday.
A history of political instability
A former army general, the 52-year-old Embalo has governed a country plagued by political instability, military coups, and economic challenges since its independence from Portugal in 1974. Throughout his presidency, Embalo has claimed that there were at least two attempts to overthrow his government, the latest in December 2023.
His decision to seek another term contrasts with statements he made last year, when he suggested that his wife had persuaded him not to run again.
Political uncertainty ahead of elections
Embalo’s re-election bid and the delayed elections are likely to deepen tensions with opposition groups, who have already raised concerns over transparency and democratic processes.
As Guinea-Bissau prepares for its high-stakes election, political observers warn that ongoing disputes over term limits, postponed elections, and allegations of instability could escalate tensions in the lead-up to the vote.
With a history of political turbulence and contested leadership, Guinea-Bissau’s road to the November election remains uncertain and closely watched by both regional and international stakeholders.
