Presidentials? Simões Pereira considers “shocking” candidacy of Embaló

“ O which makes these statements somewhat shocking is the fact that he [Sissoco Embaló] left Guinea-Bissau presumably as a victim of a coup d'état, which everyone at the time understood was nothing more than ceremonial,” said Lusa Domingos Simões Pereira, who is in Portugal for medical and humanitarian reasons, stressing that the former Guinean President prevented “the dissemination of the results, which they gave him as a loser of these elections,” and avoided the recognition of “Fernando Dias da Costa as President-elect”.

According to the leader of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), the maneuver of Sissoco Embalo served to “keep in power elements of his trust” until the conditions for his return and claim of office were met.

The opposition leader also surprised the change of speech by the Guinean military authorities, noting that, after a period in which the Military High Command guaranteed other priorities, the announcement now arises that the conditions for the candidacy of the former president are created.

“ Few times or never heard of an entity that has been the victim of a coup d'état to make these statements in relation to those who removed him from power,” said Domingos Simões Pereira.

For the opposition, the great doubt that arises at this time is to know “if these same conditions will be guaranteed to all other Guineans who want to return and participate in the [electoral] process”, which, in their opinion, must “surrect some concern and questioning”.

On Monday, Umaro Sissoco Embaló announced that he will be a candidate for the presidential elections in December, less than a week from the announced return to Bissau.

“ Yes, 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, president of transition since the coup d’état of November 26, 2025 and “principal artist of his removal, but from whom he remained close, will respect the terms of the transition letter and will not apply”, leaving the open way 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, added the JA.

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.