Gambiaj.com – (Bissau, Guinea-Bissau) – Domingos Simões Pereira, leader of the African Independence Party of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) and coordinator of the Inclusive Alliance Platform (PAI Terra Ranka), has issued a grave warning about Guinea-Bissau’s political future. Pereira cautioned that the nation is teetering on the brink of becoming a “non-state” due to outdated and illegitimate institutions.
Speaking on the PAIGC’s social media platform in commemoration of National Heroes’ Day, January 20—an annual event that also marks the assassination of liberation hero Amílcar Cabral in 1973—Pereira highlighted the dire state of governance in the country. He emphasized the urgency of action, noting that President Umaro Sissoco Embaló has just 41 days to restore the legitimacy of key institutions, including the National People’s Assembly, the Supreme Court of Justice, and the National Election Commission.
“The institutions are all outdated and without legitimacy to function,” Pereira stated. “The President of the Republic has only forty-one days to replace these institutions and create conditions for dialogue through which we can find the necessary consensus to restore the democratic rule of law in Guinea-Bissau.”
Pereira urged the President to utilize the constitutional prerogatives still available to him to address the nation’s governance crisis. He called for the involvement of political parties, civil society, and other key stakeholders in facilitating a solution to the impasse. Pereira also emphasized the role of international organizations such as ECOWAS and the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), suggesting they could support Guinea-Bissau in consolidating democratic governance.
Call for Elections Amid Looming Deadline and a Plea for Mobilization
The PAIGC leader raised concerns over the fast-approaching February 27 deadline, marking the end of President Embaló’s term. Pereira criticized the lack of legal frameworks to fix an election date, arguing that the Constitution requires a minimum of 90 days for electoral preparations, leaving the current 41-day timeframe insufficient.
“No one, including the President of the Republic, has the legal competence to organize elections within this timeframe,” Pereira stressed. He warned that the absence of a clear plan for elections could further destabilize the country.
Pereira called on the Guinean people to demand respect for their democratic rights and to mobilize for change. “The time has come for us to rise and say that if our rights are not respected, we will take the power that the law grants us and make it work,” he declared.
He also appealed for non-violence, emphasizing that the use of force is not a sustainable solution to Guinea-Bissau’s challenges. “It is good that we all respect the norms to allow us to get out of this situation under normal conditions,” he said.
As the February 27 deadline approaches, Guinea-Bissau faces a critical juncture in its democratic journey. Pereira’s call to action underscores the urgency of addressing the country’s institutional crisis to avoid slipping further into political instability.
