Guinea-Bissau's president reappoints Geraldo Martins as premier

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) – Guinea-Bissau's President Umaro Sissoco Embalo reappointed Geraldo Martins as the country’s prime minister on Tuesday, according to a decree issued by the president’s office.

The appointment came days after Embalo dissolved parliament following clashes between army factions in the capital Bissau on Dec. 1, which the president described as a coup attempt.

First appointed prime minister in August this year, Martins served as finance minister in a previous government.

Before that, he served as education, science and technology minister.

He belongs to the former ruling PAIGC party, which now leads an opposition coalition.

For the second time within a period of less than two years, Embalo on Dec. 4 dissolved the legislature.

The date for holding the next legislative elections is yet to be announced.

The majority party or coalition appoints the government under the current political dispensation, but the president retains the power to dismiss it under certain circumstances, which may lead to political paralysis.