Guinea-Bissau President Dissolves Parliament Following Violent Clash Between Security Forces

In a bold move, Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo has officially dissolved the nation’s parliament in the aftermath of a fierce shootout involving members of the presidential palace battalion and the national guard.

In a decree issued on Monday, President Embalo cited the impossibility of the “normal functioning of the institutions of the Republic” as the primary reason for the dissolution. The decree further outlines that the date for the next legislative elections will be determined in accordance with constitutional provisions, with the immediate enforcement of the presidential decree.

The violent clash occurred on Friday between the national guard and the special forces of the presidential guard. The incident was reportedly connected to efforts to re-arrest Souleiman Seidi, the finance minister, and Antonio Monteiro, the secretary of state for the treasury. The two officials had previously been detained in connection to an investigation into the alleged irregular withdrawal of $10 million of state funds.

Following an anti-corruption inquiry on Thursday that focused on payments to 11 companies, Seidi and Monteiro were arrested to avoid compromising the ongoing probe. However, national guard soldiers later stormed the police cells, liberating the detained officials with heavy weaponry, including AK-47s and bazookas.

President Embalo, addressing the situation on Saturday, labeled the violence as an attempted coup, vowing “serious consequences” for those involved. It’s worth noting that this incident follows a similar one in February 2022 when the presidential palace was attacked, also described as a coup attempt.

As Guinea-Bissau faces this political turbulence, the dissolution of parliament marks a significant development with potential far-reaching consequences for the nation’s political landscape. The international community will undoubtedly monitor the situation closely as events continue to unfold.