Dozens of Guineans living in Portugal took part this Friday in a picket in front of the residence of Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, whom they call on to “stop” the President of Guinea-Bissau in a decision to dissolve parliament, which they consider “unconstitutional”. .
Supported by posters criticizing Oumaro Sissoko Embalo, as well as highlighting the colors of Guinea-Bissau on flags and some items of clothing, participants made themselves heard through a megaphone twirled by those who had something to say about the current Guinean crisis.
“Down with the decision to dissolve the National Assembly,” they shouted in unison at the end of each speech, with some very heatedly criticizing the head of state of Guinea-Bissau, while others remembered Amilcar Cabral.
“Down with Sissoko, coup leader. Long live the Guinean people. Democracy now. Long live Cabral,” read one poster.
Rui Pinto Ribeiro, a Guinean living in Portugal since 1998, explained that this civil society movement chose Belém given the “very close connection” between the President of Guinea-Bissau and the Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, as well as with outgoing Prime Minister António Koshtoy.
“This connection consoles Sissoko,” he said, saying protesters believe Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa can “reverse the situation provoked” by Guinea-Bissau’s head of state.
“In order for the Constitution to be respected, one call, one phone call, one warning, very tough advice, a very clear position is enough. The situation is the opposite. There is no reason for such a situation now,” he said.
And that is what brought dozens of Guineans together this Friday in front of the Belém Palace: to convince Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa to “slow down Sissoko, because the Constitution must be respected.”
Mariano Cuade, one of the organizers of the action, warned that “a witch hunt in Bissau is inevitable.”
“The President, of his own free will, has decided to prosecute and blame those who, in his opinion, are responsible for the political crisis in the country, while he is the main provocateur of the situation,” he said.
And he continued: “President Marcelo, as we know, had a very close relationship with President Embalo, there was even an exchange of awards, which makes us think that there is a great rapprochement and a great understanding. President Marcelo will certainly be able to talk to his colleague to remove him from a decision that is unconstitutional.”
According to Mariano Quade, the apparent relationship of “mutual respect between the two presidents” could lead to “the intervention of one of the others to clarify the error.”
“We firmly believe in this, in the actions of President Marcelo to remove President Sissoko from a completely unconstitutional decision,” he said.
In an interview with Lusa on Tuesday, the President of the Guinea-Bissau Parliament, Domingos Simões Pereira, accused Portugal of allowing itself to be used by the Guinean head of state “instead of contributing to strengthening stability, building democratic institutions.”
“From time to time, from time to time the President [Sissoco Embaló] sparks conversations with [o Presidente da República de Portugal] Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa with Prime Minister António Costa and other government officials [portuguesas]. And this is done with the intention of causing some parallelism with what is happening in Portugal, and therefore if it is normal in Portugal, then it is normal in Guinea-Bissau,” said Simões Pereira.
On the same day, the Portuguese President said that he had not met with his Guinean counterpart since mid-November, when, together with António Costa, he participated in the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the African country’s independence in Bissau.
On Wednesday, the Portuguese government in a statement denied Simões Pereira’s claims, saying Portugal was “cooperating with all Guinean institutions and authorities” to “strengthen stability, democracy and the rule of law, and promote development.” in Guinea-Bissau,” respecting the “full sovereignty” of that country.
On Monday, Embalo dissolved parliament and announced the dissolution of the government following elections last June in what he claims is an attempted coup in the country.
According to the President and head of the Armed Forces, General Biage Na Ntan, the coup was being prepared by the National Guard.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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