[Guinea-Bissau\Presidential Election]
UNOWAS’ Mohamed Ibn Chambas, welcomes the announcement by the Electoral Commission of the results of the presidential election. He applauds the people of Guinea-Bissau for the successful conduct of the polls and the peaceful atmosphere that prevailed throughout the electoral process.
Photo: Facebook
Former Guinea-Bissau Prime Minister Umaro Cissoko Embalo, 47, who served in that capacity under former President Jose Mario Vaz, was declared the winner in the recent presidential election in Guinea-Bissau.
Following a three-day visit to Guinea-Bissau conducted from 28 to 31 December, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Mohamed Ibn Chambas, welcomes the announcement by the Electoral Commission of the results of the presidential election.
The election was won by former Guinea-Bissau Prime Minister Umaro Embalo who beat Domingos Simoes Pereira who pledges to contest the result alleging “electoral fraud.” Former Incumbent President Jose Mario Vaz did not make it past the election’s first round in November.
Vaz, elected in 2014, fell out with members of his PAIGC Party (African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde) for firing the then prime minister in 2015. The political turmoil in Guinea Bissau was made worse when Vaz, last October, fired Prime Minister Aristide Gomes replacing him with Faustino Fudut Imbali. Embalo served as prime minister under Vaz from 2016-2018.
Mr. Chambas applauds the people of Guinea-Bissau for the successful conduct of the polls and the peaceful atmosphere that prevailed throughout the electoral process.
The Special Representative commends the two candidates for their magnanimity and grace in accepting the results, and urges all party supporters to continue to show maturity and exercise restraint in the post-election period.
The Special Representative congratulates the Electoral Commission for the exemplary conduct of the electoral process which marks an important step forward in Guinea-Bissau’s democratic development.
The Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel reiterates the commitment of the United Nations to continue supporting the Government and the people of Guinea-Bissau in their efforts towards consolidating peace and development.
