Overview
- The military high command said on Thursday that necessary security conditions were not in place to guarantee Umaro Sissoco Embalo’s return from exile in Morocco.
- Embalo had announced plans to come back to Guinea‑Bissau to contest a presidential vote set for December 6 that the junta scheduled after last year’s coup.
- A constitution approved in August added a five‑year continuous residency requirement for presidential candidates that could be used to challenge Embalo’s eligibility.
- The junta reiterated that bans on demonstrations and political gatherings remain in force and authorities reported unrest within the presidential guard after troop transfers.
- The decision hands the military effective control over who can participate in the transition and deepens doubts about whether the December election will be seen as free, competitive, and legitimate.