Guinea-Bissau’s opposition leader Domingos Simões Pereira returned from nine months in exile on Friday to formally submit his candidacy for the country’s presidential election scheduled for November 23, an AFP reporter confirmed.
Pereira, a former prime minister and leader of the PAIGC party, which led Guinea-Bissau to independence from Portugal in 1974, had been living abroad due to what he described as threats to his life and ongoing legal troubles.
He arrived in the capital, Bissau, on Friday night under tight security, with a heavy police and military presence deployed around the airport. Despite heavy rain, a number of supporters gathered to welcome him. Pereira, however, did not speak to waiting reporters before leaving the airport.
Last weekend, during a gathering with supporters in Portugal, Pereira announced his decision to return, saying he was committed to leading a “democratic fight”. On social media, he confirmed his intention to run for president and indicated he aimed to meet the September 26 deadline for candidate submissions.
Pereira is a prominent critic of incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, having contested the 2019 presidential election in which Embaló was declared the winner. The disputed outcome led to a brief political standoff, with two rival presidents claiming power. Pereira and his allies in the opposition have maintained that Embaló’s mandate, which began on February 27, 2020, has now expired.
In addition to facing alleged threats, Pereira has been accused of involvement in a coup plot and corruption, though he has denied any wrongdoing.
Speaking to AFP, political analyst João Alberto Djata described Pereira’s return as “risky,” noting that “several accusations still weigh against him.”
Guinea-Bissau has long struggled with political instability. Since gaining independence in 1974, the West African nation has experienced four successful coups and 17 attempted ones, the most recent being in 2012.
AFP
