Guinea-Bissau's president dissolves parliament

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) - Guinea-Bissau's President Umaro Sissoco Embalo dissolved the country’s parliament on Monday, over alleged corruption and undermining state organs.

According to a presidential decree, the decision was made considering the “existence of persistent and insurmountable differences between the National People's Assembly and other sovereign bodies, including the Court of Auditors.”

“The National People's Assembly under the guise of parliamentary immunity has defended and protected lawmakers heavily indicted for crimes of corruption, harmful administration and embezzlement,” Embalo said in a statement.

Prime Minister Nuno Gomes Nabiam and Deputy Prime Minister Soares Sambu will remain in office until the legislative elections are held, it added.

The legislative elections is set for Dec. 18, in accordance with the provisions of Article 68 of the constitution, the statement noted.

“The 10th legislature converted the National People's Assembly into a space of political conspiracy. Persistently, many members have combined their efforts to weaken the institutions of the republic rather than do everything to strengthen them,” said Embalo, in a speech to the nation, after announcing the dissolution of the parliament.

“I decided to return to the Guineans so that, later this year, they go to the polls to freely choose the parliament they want to have and the National People's Assembly of the 11th legislature,” he added.

This is the second time that Guinea-Bissau's democratically elected parliament has been dissolved.

In 2003, former Guinean President Kumba Lala dissolved the parliament, accusing the lawmakers of trying to “reduce the powers of the President of the Republic” through a constitutional review process.

Embalo in February survived an attempted coup.