France to Bissau-Guinean soldiers: "Stay away from politics"
Paris, France (PANA) - The French Foreign Ministry on Thursday urged the Bissau-Guinean military to refrain from interfering in the post-electoral crisis the country is experiencing with two candidates claiming victory in the presidential election.
"France invites the defense and security forces of Guinea-Bissau to stay away from political life and calls on all actors to show restraint and respect for the legal framework and the institutional order to resolve the electoral dispute," said Agnès von der Mühll, spokesperson for the Quai d'Orsay.
A showdown arose between Umaro Sissoco Embalo, leader of the Madem G15 party, and Domingos Simoes Pereira, candidate for the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), after the National Election Commission (NEC), at the end of the second round which took place on December 29, 2019, named Embalo winner with 53.55% and Pereira is credited with 46.45%. Pereira has since lodged an appeal with the Supreme Court which asked the NEC to verify his claims.
After verification, the NEC confirmed Embalo's victory over Pereira with the same figures, but the latter once again went to court. But before the Supreme Court decided on the matter, the two camps have claimed victory.
-0- PANA BM/IS/KND/VAO 5March2020
