Guinea-Bissau heads to the polls on Sunday in legislative elections as voters seek stability more than a year after President Umaro Sissoco Embalo dissolved Parliament over accusations of corruption.
In the central district of Bairro Militar in the capital, Bissau, 30 voters were up early to queue in the shade of trees before casting their ballots after the seven am (0700 GMT) opening.
Twenty-two parties are vying for 102 seats, with about 884,000 people registered to vote. Results are expected within 48 hours.
Three dominant parties, including Embalo’s Madem G15 party, share almost all the seats in the national assembly. The other two parties are the long-dominant African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) and the Party for Social Renewal (PRS).
Under the current political system, the majority party or coalition appoints the government, but the president has the power to dismiss it in certain circumstances. That has led to political deadlock and infighting in the past.
President Embalo dissolved the National Assembly in May last year after falling out with lawmakers months after thwarting a coup attempt.
The president said he had “persistent differences that could not be resolved” with Parliament, which he said had become rife with “guerrilla politics and conspiracy”.
He accused lawmakers of having protected Members of Parliament (MPs) accused in corruption cases and refusing to be audited.
President Embalo, a former army general, has long sought to change the Constitution, which the international community cites as an important factor behind the country’s instability.
While the changes he intends to make are not clear, critics accuse him of seeking to consolidate power following the disputed 2019 presidential election.. —Aljazeera
