Guinea-Bissau Prime Minister Ilídio Vieira Té has stated the country will postpone its presidential and legislative elections scheduled for December 6 without announcing a new date for the vote.
Té told reporters that the country was not prepared to hold the elections as scheduled, citing delays in the political and electoral process.
“There are no conditions for holding the elections scheduled for December 6,” the prime minister said.
Political parties have yet to hold their congresses to select leaders, while prospective candidates missed an October 6 deadline to submit their bids to Guinea-Bissau’s Supreme Court, according to the prime minister.
The postponement comes less than a year after Guinea-Bissau’s previous presidential election was disrupted by a military takeover after soldiers seized power before the results of the November 2025 elections could be announced, overthrowing the civilian government.
The military subsequently established an interim administration, with the country now facing another delay to its return to elected civilian rule while voters s approved a new constitution that expanded the powers of the presidency in August
The government last week blocked former President Umaro Sissoco Embaló who had planned to return on Sunday and contest the presidential election from returning to Guinea-Bissau, citing national security concerns.
