Guinea-Bissau: Presidential campaign kicks off without main opposition party | Africanews

Guinea-Bissau Presidential Campaign Begins Without Main Opposition

The presidential campaign in Guinea-Bissau has begun this weekend, notably without the country’s main opposition force, the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC). This marks an unprecedented moment in the nation’s political history.

The 860,000 registered voters will head to the polls on November 23 to choose both a new president and 102 members of parliament. Twelve candidates are competing in the presidential race, including current president Umaro Sissoco Embaló, who is widely viewed as the frontrunner.

Exclusion of the Main Opposition

PAIGC and its presidential candidate, Domingos Simões Pereira, were barred from participating after the Supreme Court ruled that their nomination was submitted after the deadline.

“This will be the first general election without the PAIGC since Guinea-Bissau’s independence from Portugal in 1974.”

Pereira, a former prime minister and a major political rival of President Embaló, led his party to victory in the legislative elections of 2023.

Political Context and Stability

The exclusion of the PAIGC raises concerns about the fairness of the upcoming elections and the country’s overall political stability—an issue that remains central to Guinea-Bissau’s democratic future.

Author’s summary: The presidential race in Guinea-Bissau advances under controversy, as the exclusion of the main opposition PAIGC reshapes the balance of power and tests the nation’s fragile democratic stability.

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Africanews Africanews — 2025-11-03

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