The political crisis in Guinea-Bissau has escalated after a delegation from the West African regional bloc, ECOWAS, was expelled by President Umaro Sissoco Embalo. The ECOWAS mission, which had been sent to resolve the crisis, was forced to depart on Monday after facing threats of expulsion from Embalo. This comes after Embalo’s announcement at the airport in Bissau, where he confirmed that he would run for a second term as president in the upcoming elections scheduled for November 30.
Embalo’s decision to run for re-election is contentious, with the opposition arguing that his first term already ended on February 27, 2025, as per Guinea-Bissau’s constitution. The opposition claims that Embalo’s tenure was supposed to conclude at the end of February, but the Supreme Court ruled that his first term should run until September 4, 2025. This situation has further intensified the political tensions, with opposition leaders demanding his resignation and planning mass protests and strikes.
Embalo’s announcement comes after his administration survived two coup attempts, the most recent of which occurred in December 2023. Following this incident, Embalo dissolved the opposition-controlled parliament, accusing it of passivity in the face of ongoing political instability.
Meanwhile, Embalo has been strengthening international ties, notably with Russia, having recently met with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss potential economic and security partnerships. This growing relationship with Russia signals a shift in Guinea-Bissau’s international alliances, as Russia has become a preferred security partner for several African nations, reducing the influence of traditional powers like France and the United States.
As tensions continue to rise, the situation in Guinea-Bissau remains precarious, with the opposition vowing to take action against Embalo’s extended presidency while the president appears determined to stay in power until the elections.
