Domingos Simões Pereira, former Prime Minister and leader of the PAIGC party, returned to Guinea-Bissau on Friday after nine months in exile to submit his candidacy for the upcoming presidential election scheduled for November 23.
Pereira left the country over concerns for his safety and ongoing legal issues. He arrived in the capital under heavy security, while some supporters braved rain to welcome him. He did not speak to waiting reporters upon arrival.
Last Sunday, Pereira told supporters in Portugal that he was returning to lead a “democratic fight.” He announced on social media his intention to run for the presidency and to meet the September 26 deadline for submitting his application.
A long-time opponent of President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, Pereira challenged Embalo in the previous presidential election. The 2019 vote was highly contested, with Pereira disputing the results declared by the electoral commission.
Guinea-Bissau has experienced political instability since its independence from Portugal in 1974, including four successful coups and 17 attempted ones. Pereira and his allies argue that President Embalo’s five-year mandate, which began in February 2020, has expired.
Aside from safety concerns, Pereira faces accusations of plotting a coup and corruption. Political analyst Joao Alberto Djata described Pereira’s return as “risky because several accusations still weigh against him.”