In a recent development, a mission sent by the West African regional bloc, ECOWAS, departed Guinea-Bissau amid rising tension over the timeline for presidential elections, following President Umaro Sissoco Embalo’s threatening remarks. This situation heightens the risk of instability in Guinea-Bissau, a nation that has seen numerous coups since achieving independence from Portugal over five decades ago.
The current political crisis stems from differing opinions on when President Embalo’s term should conclude. The opposition insists that his term ended last week, while the supreme court has determined that it officially expires on September 4. In the midst of this controversy, President Embalo declared that the country will hold its next presidential and parliamentary elections on November 30.
The Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS, typically plays a pivotal role in overseeing political and economic matters in the region, engaging with governments to address national challenges. Recently, however, it has struggled to manage military takeovers and socio-economic grievances regarding natural resource distribution across member countries.
President Embalo has previously claimed to have survived two coup attempts, with the latest in December 2023 involving an armed confrontation between national forces and the presidential guard. This event led him to dissolve the parliament, primarily controlled by the opposition, accusing it of inaction in the face of national issues.
Adding to the complexity, last week saw President Embalo engage in discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The dialogue aimed at exploring potential avenues for economic and security cooperation, reflecting Africa’s growing inclination towards forging alliances with Russia, moving away from historical partners such as France and the United States.
