2024 Guinea-Bissau parliamentary election explained

Country:Guinea-Bissau
Previous Election:2023
Election Date:24 November 2024
Leader1:Domingos Simões Pereira
Last Election1:54
Party2:Madem G15
Last Election2:29
Party3:Party for Social Renewal
Last Election3:12
Party4:PTG
Color4:
  1. D00115
Leader4:Botche Candé
Last Election4:6
Party5:APU–PDGB
Leader5:Nuno Gomes Nabiam
Last Election5:1
Prime Minister
Before Election:Rui Duarte de Barros
Before Party:PAIGC
Ongoing:yes
Current Seats1:54
Current Seats2:29
Current Seats3:12
Current Seats4:6
Current Seats5:1

Snap parliamentary elections are scheduled to be held in Guinea-Bissau on 24 November 2024.[1] Incumbent president Umaro Sissoco Embalo dissolved the opposition controlled parliament on 4 December 2023, saying an "attempted coup" had prevented him from returning home from COP28 climate conference.[2]

This was the second early dissolution by incumbent president Embalo, with his first dissolution of parliament being in 2022, leading to an opposition victory in the 2023 parliamentary election.[3] In response to the dissolution, parliamentary speaker Domingos Simões Pereira accused the president of carrying out a "constitutional coup d'etat."[4] Incumbent president Embalo would go on to fire the prime minister Geraldo Martins, who was appointed by the PAIGC-led National Assembly and instead appoint Rui Duarte de Barros by presidential decree.[5]

Electoral system

The 102 members of the National People's Assembly are elected by two methods; 100 by closed list proportional representation from 27 multi-member constituencies and two from single-member constituencies representing expatriate citizens in Africa and Europe.[6]

Issues

Various opposition parties have criticized incumbent president Embalo, accusing him of authoritarianism and wanting to establish a dictatorship. Beyond the outcome of the elections, the broader narrative in Guinea-Bissau in 2024 will revolve around the imperative of establishing and maintaining momentum for a stable system of governance. Central to this narrative will be the efforts to fortify institutional frameworks that serve as guardrails against the abuse of power.[7]

According to observers, the conditions for new elections have not been met due to organisational challenges. One major issue is the expiration of the terms of the commission members responsible for overseeing elections. Typically, these members would be appointed by parliament, however since the parliament has been dissolved, there is no entity in place to facilitate the appointment of new commission members.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Presidente da Guiné-Bissau marca legislativas antecipadas para 24 de novembro. 2024-07-16. 2024-07-26 . . pt.
  2. Web site: 2023-12-04 . Guinea-Bissau's president dissolves parliament after 'attempted coup' . 2024-03-26 . France 24 . en.
  3. Web site: 2023-12-04 . Guinea-Bissau’s president issues a decree dissolving the opposition-controlled parliament . 2024-03-26 . AP News . en.
  4. Web site: Guinea-Bissau: President dissolves parliament after coup bid – DW – 12/04/2023 . 2024-03-26 . dw.com . en.
  5. Web site: Guinea-Bissau opposition fears 'dictatorship' – DW – 03/22/2024 . 2024-03-26 . dw.com . en.
  6. http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/2133_B.htm Electoral system
  7. Web site: Cook . Joseph Siegle and Candace . Africa’s 2024 Elections: Challenges and Opportunities to Regain Democratic Momentum . 2024-03-26 . Africa Center for Strategic Studies . en-US.