Photo Credit: The Associated Press
Guinea-Bissau President, Umaro Embalo, issued a presidential decree on Monday dissolving the nation’s parliament after last week failed coup.
“The date for holding the next legislative elections will be set in due time in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution,” the decree stated.
“This Presidential Decree comes into force immediately.”
The order referred to the “seriousness,” of the shootout which started in the capital, Bissau, between members of the Presidential Palace Battalion and the National Guard as the former tried to rearrest two ministers released from custody while being investigated for alleged corruption.
Guinea-Bissau’s semi-presidential system limits the president’s powers by allowing the majority party in the parliament to appoint the Cabinet. As a result, the National Guard — which is under the Ministry of Interior — is largely controlled by the opposition-dominated parliament.
Tensions have also remained between Embalo and a coalition of opposition groups that won the majority in Guinea-Bissau’s parliament in June, more than one year after the president dissolved the parliament.
SaharaReporters had on Friday reported that heavy gunfire was heard near Guinea-Bissau's presidential palace where members of the national guard were holed up in the south of the city.
The incident came after soldiers freed a minister from the main opposition party detained for suspected misuse of public funds, Reuters reporters and a police source said.
The national guard members had on Thursday night freed Finance Minister Souleiman Seidi and Secretary of State for the Public Treasury Antonio Monteiro from police custody, then took refuge in Bissau's southern district, military and intelligence sources said.
Special forces had intervened after several unsuccessful attempts at mediation, with calm restored following an exchange of gunfire, the sources said.
President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, elected in December 2019, is currently in Dubai, where he is attending the United Nations' COP 28 climate conference.
Seidi and Monteiro had been taken into custody after being questioned for several hours about the withdrawal of $10 million from state funds, according to the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons.
Lawmakers questioned Seidi about the withdrawal during a National Assembly session on Monday.
He claimed that the withdrawal was legal and was intended to support the country's private sector.
Members of the national guard took Seidi and Monteiro to an unknown location on Thursday before seeking refuge in the barracks, the sources said.
Guinea-Bissau President Dissolves Parliament After Failed Military Coup, Unrest Guinea-Bissau President, Umaro Sissoco Embalo, issued a presidential decree on Monday dissolving the nation’s parliament after last week failed coup.“The date for holding the next legislative elections will be set in due time in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution,” the decree stated. “This Presidential Decree comes into force immediately.”The order referred to the “seriousness,” of the shootout which started in the capital, Bissau, between members of the Presidential Palace Battalion and the National Guard as the former tried to rearrest two ministers released from custody while being investigated for alleged corruption. Guinea-Bissau’s semi-presidential system limits the president’s powers by allowing the majority party in the parliament to appoint the Cabinet. As a result, the National Guard — which is under the Ministry of Interior — is largely controlled by the opposition-dominated parliament.Tensions have also remained between Embalo and a coalition of opposition groups that won the majority in Guinea-Bissau’s parliament in June, more than one year after the president dissolved the parliament.SaharaReporters had on Friday reported that heavy gunfire was heard near Guinea-Bissau's presidential palace where members of the national guard were holed up in the south of the city.The incident came after soldiers freed a minister from the main opposition party detained for suspected misuse of public funds, Reuters reporters and a police source said.The national guard members had on Thursday night freed Finance Minister Souleiman Seidi and Secretary of State for the Public Treasury Antonio Monteiro from police custody, then took refuge in Bissau's southern district, military and intelligence sources said.Special forces had intervened after several unsuccessful attempts at mediation, with calm restored following an exchange of gunfire, the sources said.President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, elected in December 2019, is currently in Dubai, where he is attending the United Nations' COP 28 climate conference.Seidi and Monteiro had been taken into custody after being questioned for several hours about the withdrawal of $10 million from state funds, according to the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons.Lawmakers questioned Seidi about the withdrawal during a National Assembly session on Monday.He claimed that the withdrawal was legal and was intended to support the country's private sector.Members of the national guard took Seidi and Monteiro to an unknown location on Thursday before seeking refuge in the barracks, the sources said.