Guinea-Bissau Military Blocks Ousted President’s Return

Guinea-Bissau’s military rulers have barred former President Umaro Sissoco Embalo from returning to the country, citing security concerns and the need to maintain public order. Embalo, who was removed in a military coup last November, had planned to return and contest a presidential election scheduled for December. The coup occurred shortly before the results of presidential and legislative elections were due to be announced. The military subsequently suspended the electoral process and installed Major-General Horta Inta-a as transitional president, while Embalo went into exile. The political dispute comes after Guinea-Bissau approved a new constitution in an August referendum that changed electoral rules. Among the new provisions is a requirement that presidential candidates have lived continuously in the country for five years, potentially complicating Embalo’s candidacy given his period in exile.