Guinea-Bissau's election body says the country is not ready for December polls
The electoral commission has told the military-led transition that conditions for the vote meant to restore civilian rule have not been met. The decision on a delay rests with the transitional president.
Bissau — Guinea-Bissau's National Electoral Commission said on Thursday that the conditions for holding legislative and presidential elections in December have not been met, Africanews reports, citing AFP.
The commission's vice-president, Felisberta Moura Vaz, said the body had informed the transitional president, General Horta N'Tam, of its position. She added that any decision to postpone the vote belongs to him.
A vote meant to end military rule
The December elections are supposed to return the country to civilian government after the military seized power in November 2025. That coup came a day before provisional results of a presidential election were due to be announced.
Prime Minister Ilidio Vieira Te has also cast doubt on the timetable. He said no political party was "yet in an ideal position to contest the elections", pointing to what he described as outdated party leaderships.
Tension around the former president
The announcement follows a tense week in Bissau. The ousted president, Umaro Sissoco Embalo, was barred last week from returning to the country amid reports of discontent inside the presidential guard. Several members of the guard were then disarmed and placed under military supervision, according to the report.
Guinea-Bissau has had five coups since independence from Portugal in 1974. The commission did not propose a new date, and the transitional authorities had not announced a postponement at the time of the report.
This report is based on reporting by Africanews with AFP. No decision on a new election date had been announced when it was written.
