Guinea-Bissau's electoral commission announced on Thursday that conditions had not been met to organise its December 6 presidential and legislative vote. The vote was meant to restore civilian rule after a coup last November. The commission's vice president, Felisberta Moura Vaz, told reporters that the body had informed Transitional President General Horta N'Tam that the "conditions necessary to organise elections by December 6 will not be met".
The decision to postpone the election comes amid significant political and security turmoil in the west African nation. The army seized power last November, overthrowing President Umaro Sissoco Embalo and suspending the electoral process. General Horta N'Tam, a close associate of Embalo, had set December 6 as the date for presidential and legislative elections meant to restore civilian rule.
General Horta N'Tam summoned the National Electoral Commission for a meeting, during which the commission informed him of the decision. When asked about the possibility of delaying the vote, Vaz replied that the matter was for the transitional president to decide. The junta had established a date for the elections, but the prime minister, Ilidio Vieira Te, said that the conditions for holding credible elections did not exist.
According to Vieira Te, no political party was yet in an ideal position to contest the elections, and the leadership of most parties was outdated, calling for a renewal of grassroots organisations. This statement suggests that the postponement of the election may be necessary to allow political parties to prepare and reorganise.
The coup in November occurred just days before provisional results were to be announced, and many observers suspected Embalo of orchestrating the coup to halt an election process he appeared to be losing. However, the junta has taken steps to distance itself from the former president, including barring him from returning to the country due to "security conditions".
In August, Guinea-Bissau's leaders held a referendum in which voters ushered in a constitutional change that gives the president more powers. The junta said the change would stabilise institutions before the elections, but the opposition urged citizens to boycott the process. The country has experienced five coups and numerous attempted putsches since independence from Portugal in 1974.
The postponement of the election is a significant development in a country plagued by poverty, political chaos, corruption, and drug smuggling. The international community will be watching closely as Guinea-Bissau navigates its transition to civilian rule.
Key points
- The electoral commission's decision cites a lack of readiness among political parties and security concerns.
- The junta's distancing from former President Umaro Sissoco Embalo may indicate a shift in its strategy.
- The postponement highlights the ongoing challenges to stability and democracy in Guinea-Bissau.
