President Umaro Sissoco Embalo of Guinea-Bissau has dismissed Prime Minister Rui Duarte de Barros, appointing Braima Camara, a former coordinator of the Madem G15 opposition party, as his replacement.
The reshuffle, announced Thursday via presidential decree, is widely viewed as part of Embalo’s strategy to consolidate power ahead of November’s general elections.
Embalo’s leadership has been at the center of political turmoil, with critics insisting his term legally ended on February 27. However, the nation’s Supreme Court ruled that his presidency should continue until September 4.
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Defying the dispute, Embalo has set the elections for November 30, declaring that his first term will run until then, a decision that has fueled mounting opposition.
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Guinea-Bissau, a nation scarred by repeated coups since independence from Portugal more than half a century ago, limits presidents to two five-year terms. Embalo’s move to extend his mandate has deepened tensions, with opposition leaders refusing to recognize his authority.
In March, a delegation from the West African regional bloc ECOWAS cut short its mediation mission after claiming it faced threats of expulsion from Embalo’s administration, underscoring the volatile political climate as the elections draw near.
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