Guinea-Bissau leader to run as independent amid political crisis

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BISSAU - Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo announced Friday he would run as an independent in the politically unstable country's November presidential elections, as he made his candidacy official.

Embalo was originally elected in December 2019 for a five-year term as leader of the west African nation and had stated that he would only serve once.

But he ultimately postponed the election date until November this year, eliciting months of turmoil and accusations of clinging to power well beyond the end of his mandate.

Embalo announced his intention to run as an independent during the inauguration of his new prime minister, Braima Camara, on Friday.

Camara, a member of Embalo's ruling Madem G15 party, replaces opposition party prime minister Rui Duarte Barros, whom Embalo sacked on Thursday.

Barros is a member of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC).

During the ceremony, Embalo announced the creation of a new "Move Forward Together" movement under which he will campaign.

The declaration made official Embalo's candidacy, which he had already announced to AFP in March.

"I will not be any political party's candidate because I don't want to be anyone's hostage," Embalo said.

"Any political parties, corporate bodies or religious organisations that wish to support me are welcome," he added.

Among the world's poorest countries and with a reputation for rampant corruption, Guinea-Bissau has laboured under a succession of coups since independence from Portugal in 1974.

Since the 2014 presidential vote, the Portuguese-speaking country has set itself on the path towards the rule of law.

That has not protected it from periods of unrest, which have persisted during Embalo's term as president.