New premier named in Guinea-Bissau as crisis looms

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) – Guinea-Bissau's newly sworn-in President Umaro Sissoco Embalo named Nuno Gomes Na Biam, a former presidential candidate, as the country’s new prime minister.

Biam’s appointment is a result of consensus, said Embalo, local media reported Saturday, quoting a presidential decree.

Biam ran as a candidate in the country's presidential elections in late 2019, but was eliminated in the first round.

He rallied behind Embalo in the second round to compete with rival Domingos Simoes Pereira.

Embalo, 47, was sworn in Thursday by the parliament's first Vice President Biam, defying a legal petition on official election results.

Several party leaders as well as outgoing President Jose Mario Vaz, attended the ceremony.

After his inauguration, however, Guinea’s parliament, where the Pereira’s party holds a majority, swore in Cipriano Cassama as interim president Friday, signaling a political crisis.

Media reports said Embalo dismissed Aristides Gomes as prime minister Friday following Thursday’s swearing in ceremony.

Soldiers loyal to Embalo took control of national radio and public television buildings, and several public buildings including the government palace and the Palace of Justice in the capital of Bissau on Friday, according to a media report.

It said the army also surrounded offices of the former prime minister.

Embalo received 53.5% of votes during the election runoff held Dec. 29, against Pereira’s 46.45%, according to results announced by the National Election Commission.

But Pereira filed a petition to the Supreme Court challenging the results as rigged, whose final ruling is still pending.

Embalo belongs to Madem, an opposition party formed by PAIGC rebels.

Pereira is also a former prime minister.

Vaz was the first president of Guinea-Bissau in 25 years to have finished his term without being ousted in a military coup.

Guinea-Bissau witnessed multiple coup attempts since independence from Portugal in 1973, four of which were successful.

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