Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo Announces Bid for Second Term

Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo will run for a second term in November, reversing his earlier pledge to step down. This announcement has intensified disputes regarding the end of his current term and the scheduling of postponed elections, now set for November 30. The political situation remains intricate, characterized by prior opposition claims and ongoing unrest in the nation.

Guinea-Bissau’s President Umaro Sissoco Embalo announced on Monday that he intends to run for a second term in the upcoming November elections. This announcement marks a significant shift from his previous commitments to step down, amplifying existing tensions surrounding the timeline of his current term and the scheduling of elections. Embalo made the declaration upon returning from foreign trips to Russia, Azerbaijan, and Hungary, stating candidly, “I will be a candidate in my own succession.”

The political landscape in Guinea-Bissau is intensely fraught. The opposition claims that Embalo’s current five-year term, which began in 2020, concluded at the end of February this year. However, the Supreme Court has ruled that his term runs until September 4. Complicating matters further, Embalo recently announced that presidential and legislative elections won’t take place until November 30, having already postponed them from their original date in 2024 due to technical and financial issues.

Embalos’ remarks about consulting political parties regarding the elections prior to issuing a presidential decree reflect his ongoing battle with the opposition. The political tensions are rooted in a history of instability; since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974, Guinea-Bissau has faced continuous struggles, including several coup attempts. Embalo acknowledged that his presidency has seen multiple attempts to overthrow him, the last of which occurred in December 2023.

Interestingly, Embalo mentioned last year that he had originally decided against seeking another term largely due to his wife’s encouragement to refrain from running. His change of heart might raise eyebrows among critics, particularly as he navigates a complex political climate marked by uncertainty and historical turbulence.


Reporting by Alberto Dabo; Writing by Sofia Christensen; Editing by Bernadette Baum
Copyright 2025 Thomson Reuters

In conclusion, President Umaro Sissoco Embalo’s decision to run for a second term in Guinea-Bissau has shifted the political dynamics in the country. This move contrasts sharply with his former intention to relinquish power, potentially exacerbating tensions over electoral timelines and his presidency’s legitimacy. Stakeholders will closely observe how these developments unfold in the lead-up to the November elections.

Original Source: www.usnews.com