Former president of Guinea‑Bissau Umaro Sissoco Embalo, who was removed from power in a military coup on 26 November, told AFP on Monday that he will return from exile and stand as a candidate in the presidential election scheduled for 6 December.
The coup, carried out by the army just days after a presidential vote, ousted Embalo and suspended the electoral process. A junta led by General Horta N’Tam, a close associate of Embalo, has since taken control and announced that both presidential and legislative elections will be held on 6 December in an effort to restore civilian rule.
Embalo promised to return to the country, though he did not specify a date, and affirmed his intention to run for president. Activists have posted on social media that they are preparing for his arrival on Sunday.
“Legally, nothing stands in the way of Umaro Sissoco Embalo’s return to Guinea‑Bissau. He was ousted from power by a coup d’état,” political analyst Malam Cisse told AFP.
History professor Bassirou Sadio added that once legal conditions are met, “everyone should be able to participate in the political contest while respecting established rules.” N’Tam, who also serves as transitional president, is barred from contesting the election under the country’s transitional charter.
The military justified the takeover as a move to preserve national order after uncovering a plot it said involved drug lords. In August, voters approved a constitutional referendum that expands presidential powers, a change the junta says will stabilise institutions before the December vote.
The political environment remains tense in the coup‑prone nation, which has experienced five coups and several attempted overthrows since independence in 1974. Opposition groups have called for a boycott of the upcoming election, citing concerns over ongoing instability, poverty and the country’s role as a hub for corruption and drug trafficking.
<small>Source: Vanguard News — read the original story there.</small>
