Guinea-Bissau Junta Blocks Embalo’s Planned Return Ahead of Election

Guinea-Bissau’s military junta has prevented ousted former president Umaro Sissoco Embalo from returning from exile, citing security conditions and the need to preserve public order.

Embalo had said earlier this week that he planned to return to Guinea-Bissau on Sunday and contest the presidential election scheduled for December. His proposed return has drawn differing responses from residents in the capital, Bissau.

Maimuna Seide, a resident of Bissau, said Embalo should be allowed to participate as a citizen and leave the decision to voters.

“You can’t stay on the sidelines, you’re a citizen, you’re part of this land. It’s the people who decide. They’re the ones who choose their leaders,” Seide said.

Lamine Djassi said he understood the decision differently, arguing that Embalo had not necessarily been directly barred from entering the country. Instead, Djassi said, those responsible for protecting the former president had indicated that they could not guarantee his safety.

“Those who are supposed to ensure his safety have said they are not in a position to do so,” Djassi said.

Djassi also said he opposed preventing Embalo from coming back and believed steps could have been taken to protect him as the election drew closer.

“I simply want to make it clear that I am not in favour of him being banned from coming,” he said.

Political restrictions remain

The junta reiterated on Thursday that restrictions on demonstrations, public gatherings and meetings for political purposes remained in force. The measures were introduced after the military came to power.

Embalo has been living in exile in Morocco since military officers took power in November last year. The takeover followed a disputed election in which Embalo and the opposition candidate both claimed victory. The military action occurred one day before provisional results were due to be announced.

Many observers have suspected Embalo of orchestrating the 26 November coup to stop an electoral process he appeared to be losing. That remains an attributed suspicion rather than an established fact.

Uncertainty over candidacy

A new constitution approved in an August referendum expanded presidential powers and altered electoral rules. It also requires presidential candidates to have lived continuously in Guinea-Bissau for the preceding five years.

It remains unclear how that residence requirement could affect Embalo’s eligibility to run in December, given his time in exile.

Guinea-Bissau is located between Senegal and Guinea and has experienced five coups, along with numerous attempted putsches, since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974.