CIVICUS speaks about the challenges of democracy in Guinea-Bissau with Malam Sanha, human rights activist and secretary general of the Forum for Social Participation of Young Girls (FINSJOR).

Political crisis in Guinea-Bissau worsened in November 2024, when President Umaro Sissoco Embaló indefinitely postponed elections and dissolved parliament twice, preventing representatives entering the National Assembly. This followed a period of instability marked by the controversial appointment of Rui Duarte de Barros as prime minister on 20 December 2023, which sparked protests and clashes with security forces. Guinea-Bissau’s democratic institutions face significant challenges beyond suspended elections, including military interference in politics and widespread corruption. International organisations and civil society groups continue to work to restore constitutional order and strengthen institutions.

What are the main obstacles to democracy in Guinea-Bissau?

Democracy in Guinea-Bissau faces political, institutional, social and economic challenges. First, political instability has been a chronic problem. The country has a history of military coups and disruptions to the democratic process, making it difficult to consolidate democratic institutions and undermining confidence in them. In addition, power struggles between political and military leaders often lead to institutional gridlock.

Another key obstacle is the fragility of institutions. The absence of an independent judiciary and a reliable electoral commission jeopardises the transparency and credibility of democratic processes. The weak rule of law encourages patronage and corruption.

Widespread corruption prevents the proper use of public resources to promote social and economic development. Social exclusion becomes political exclusion, as extreme poverty and economic inequalities limit people’s civic engagement and political participation. Excluded groups, including women, young people and ethnic minorities, often have low levels of participation, exacerbating tensions.

Political leaders also exploit ethnic and regional tensions to consolidate power, increasing social fragmentation. Finally, the influence of international and regional actors is detrimental to democracy when they promote agendas that are not conducive to internal stability.

How has military interference affected the functioning of democratic institutions?

The constant involvement of the military has weakened the separation of powers, making it difficult to consolidate a strong and legitimate civilian government. This is reflected in a lack of continuity in public policies, government instability and a generalised fear among politicians and citizens who see the armed forces as a destabilising agent rather than a guarantor of constitutional order.

Military interference directly jeopardises the functioning of key institutions such as parliament and the judiciary. The imposition of governments by force and the manipulation of electoral processes jeopardise the credibility of the state in the eyes of the population and the international community. As a result, the rule of law is weakened and impunity for political and economic crimes increases. This scenario creates a vicious circle of instability in which lack of confidence in institutions reduces foreign investment, exacerbates the economic and social crisis and makes democracy increasingly fragile.

What happened to the parliamentary election scheduled for November 2024?

Twenty days before the election was due to take place, President Embaló suspended it with a decree revoking the previous decree setting the election date. The decree stated that, in the government’s opinion, the indispensable conditions for holding the election on the originally scheduled date had not been met.

The president said that the government, which is responsible for organising elections, would not be able to meet the electoral timetable because all political bodies were late, with the exception of the Presidency of the Republic. He also warned that parties or coalitions announcing campaigns after the postponement would be ‘doing theatre and creating disorder’.

So far, no new date for the parliamentary election has been announced, leaving the electoral process on hold.

What’s needed for free and fair elections?

Guinea-Bissau has a history of questionable political processes, characterised by manipulation and a lack of transparency. For elections to be free and fair, all political forces must be able to take part and the process must be monitored by an independent body. Otherwise, they only serve to consolidate the power of elites and will be perceived as such, undermining their legitimacy.

Electoral infrastructure is also crucial: without an up-to-date census, adequate funding and efficient logistics, it won’t be possible to hold elections and the government will continue to postpone them.

What has been the impact of recent protests?

Youth movements have emerged as key challengers of traditional elites. The protests raised the political awareness of young people, who are now more engaged in demanding greater transparency and accountability from the government.

The protests revealed popular dissatisfaction with corruption, poor governance, the high cost of living and human rights violations. Their demands included solutions to unemployment, an improvement in the social situation and access to basic services such as education and health, as well as greater transparency in the management of public resources, the fight against corruption and an end to political repression.

The protests showed the power of popular mobilisation in forcing the government to respond. But the government’s response varied. In many cases there was violent repression, arbitrary arrests and media censorship, which increased distrust of the government and left it politically isolated. At other times, the authorities announced reforms but then failed to implement them, creating further mistrust among protesters.