Umaro Sissoco Embalo, the deposed président of Guinea-Bissau, is said to have made a recent diplomatic trip to Brazzaville. This visit comes after his removal from power in a military coup. Califa Soares Cassama, Embalo’s chief of staff, verified Embalo’s whereabouts. This is Embalo’s first public appearance since the March 30 coup that upended administration.
Embalo’s political journey has been tumultuous. Before coming to the presidency, he was the finance minister in his own government. Before his impeachment, he prematurely celebrated winning the November 2023 election. This was even before the official vote count – only provisional results were in. His main challenger, Fernando Dias, was caught in a politically toxic environment that sadly was unavoidable from resulting in a military intervention.
Most of the new military high command in Guinea-Bissau allegedly have ties to Embalo. His allies currently control the newly appointed 28-member government. General Horta Inta-A has been appointed as the transitional president, spearheading the movement. Horta’s ties to Embalo suggest that the political landscape remains influenced by the former president’s presence.
The circumstances surrounding Embalo’s ouster have received fierce international criticism. Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko termed the military coup a “farce,” underlining the importance of electoral credibility. As he said, “We want the electoral process to move smoothly. The [electoral] commission needs to have the authority to announce the winner.”
Across the border in Guinea-Bissau, the political atmosphere has turned recently and dramatically hostile. The African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cabo Verde (PAIGC), which is aligned with Embalo, has denounced the raid on its headquarters as “an attack on stability, democracy and the rule of law.” This declaration highlights the broader tensions fueling and drawn to the current political crisis.
Even after these challenges, Embalo is still an important player on the political stage in Guinea-Bissau. Yet his administration suffered from a dizzying degree of political instability. There were accusations that his party was not allowed to submit a presidential candidate in the elections prior to his removal.
