GUINEA-BISSAU’S opposition has vowed to paralyse the country on Thursday in protest against President Umaro Sissoco Embalo’s disputed mandate, further inflaming political tensions in the coup-prone West African nation.
According to Reuters, opposition leaders argue that Embalo’s five-year term ends on February 27, while Guinea-Bissau’s Supreme Court of Justice has ruled it extends until September 4. The uncertainty has deepened unrest in a country with a history of military coups and political instability.
Nationwide shutdown threatens disruptions
The PAI Terra Ranka coalition, led by the former ruling PAIGC party, and the Cabaz Garandi coalition announced plans for a full-scale shutdown. ‘We are going to paralyse the country completely on February 27 … Bissau will be a dead city,’ the opposition statement read.
Tensions escalated after Embalo declared that presidential and legislative elections would not take place until November 30, contradicting previous electoral timelines. The government had also postponed parliamentary elections originally scheduled for November 2024, citing financial and logistical challenges.
Embalo’s rule marked by political unrest
Since taking office in 2020, the 52-year-old former army general has faced ongoing political strife. He has claimed to have survived two coup attempts, the latest occurring in December 2023. Following that incident, which involved gunfire and clashes in the capital, he dissolved the opposition-controlled parliament, accusing lawmakers of inaction.
Despite speculation about his political future, Embalo has indicated he will not seek re-election, reportedly due to his wife’s opposition to a second term. Meanwhile, he was in Moscow on Wednesday for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, further highlighting his government’s growing international engagements.
ECOWAS mediation rejected by opposition
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has attempted to mediate the crisis, announcing plans to send a delegation to Guinea-Bissau. However, the opposition has rejected its intervention, accusing the regional bloc of bias.
With both sides refusing to budge, the standoff threatens to destabilise Guinea-Bissau further. The planned shutdown could exacerbate economic hardship and security risks, adding to the country’s turbulent political landscape.
