Former Guinean PR Embalo announces presidential candidacy in December

“ Sim, I will be a candidate”, said Sissoco Embaló to the magazine Jeune Afrique (JA) from Brazzaville, from where he should go to Bissau next Sunday.

According to the magazine, the former Guinean head of state considers that General Horta N’Tam Inta-a, transitional president since the coup d’état of 26 November 2025 and “principal artist of his removal, but of whom he remained close, will respect the terms of the transition letter and will not apply”, leaving the path open for the beginning of the pre-campaign.

By December 6th, scheduled for the elections, there will be the Congress of its party, the Madem G15, on October 16th and 17th, and the Republican Platform will be launched, which brings together more than a dozen parties and should support the candidacy of Sissoco Embalo, adds the JA.

The former Head of State announced his “voluntary return to the country” for October 4 and called for his arrival to take place “in an environment of harmony, tolerance and mutual respect”.

The announcement of Embaló's return, deposed in a coup on 26 November last, was made by his own on social networks.

According to the publication, Umaro Sissoco Embalo, who has settled in Morocco since the coup, underlines the need to “put national interest and stability above any political differences”.

“Guinea-Bissau is our homeland and belongs to all of us. Regardless of our positions or political options, we must preserve social peace, strengthen unity and place national interest above differences,” the former President wrote in the message.

Umaro Sissoco Embaló presided over Guinea-Bissau from 27 February 2020 on 26 November 2026 until he was overthrown by a coup led by General Horta Inta-a, his former head of security in the Presidency of the Republic.

The opposition considered that this was a “ceremonial coup” for taking place on the eve of the announcement of the provisional results of the presidential elections that the bloc defends were won “at the first turn” by Fernando Dias da Costa.

In his message of announcement of the return, Sissoco Embalo points out that the “return to homeland soil is a gesture of trust” in Guinea-Bissau’s future, motivated by the feeling of belonging and “by the desire to rediscover” Guinean society.

The former Head of State calls for the reception “to be peaceful and fraternal, avoiding behaviour that may arouse tensions or divisions” among countrymen and even strengthening civic responsibility and preserving the fundamental principles of the rule of law.

With the coup d'état of November 26, the military created a National Transitional Council (CNT), which took over the powers of parliament, and appointed Ilídio Vieira Té Prime Minister and Minister of Finance.

The body has approved a new Constitution which strengthens the powers of the President of the Republic, among other amendments.

General Horta Inta scheduled it for 6 December next the date for the holding of parliamentary and presidential elections and the opposition considers that those would be preparing to facilitate the return of Embalo to power.