The interim President of Guinea Bissau shocked the world and his countrymen after he handed in his resignation after serving only one full day as President.
Cipriano Cassama resigned from his position as interim President on Sunday saying his life was in danger and that he had received death threats. He also said by him being President, the stability of the country would be in danger.
“An interim president needs to have all the security conditions to fulfill his duties,” Cassama, who is the speaker of parliament, said. “Today my life’s in danger, my family’s life’s in danger, the life of the people is in danger. That’s why I’ve decided to resign.”
Mr. Cassama was sworn in by the country’s lawmakers as stipulated in the country’s constitution after the general elections to elect the new President were rejected. Umaro Sissoco Embalo, who won December 29, 2019, but the PAIGC party that controls the majority in parliament rejected the results.
Outgoing President Jose Mario Vaz had handed over power to Embalo at a hotel in Bissau last week. The PAIGC claims that Embalo’s victory was marred by fraud and its losing candidate, Domingos Simoes Pereira, is demanding a recount of the votes or have a fresh election.
Africa Elections
Africa elections are often marred with violence or allegations of rigging with the ruling party in any given country determining the winner of an election, especially in the position of the President. This has made it difficult to have a meaningful change in leadership in Africa.
In Uganda, for instance, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has been in power for more than 30 years and despite his advanced age, he has refused to hand over power or allow free and fair elections in his country. He is like a supreme leader of Uganda and has a say in everything including elections.
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