Guinea-Bissau opposition leader returns from exile to contest presidency

Guinea-Bissau's opposition leader returned from exile on Friday to submit his candidacy for the country's presidential election later this year.

Domingos Simoes Pereira, a former prime minister and leader of the PAIGC party that led the former Portuguese colony to independence, has spent nine months out of the country because of a perceived threat to his life and legal issues.

He arrived in the capital on Friday night, with a significant security presence deployed around the airport.

Some supporters braved heavy rain to welcome him but he left without commenting to waiting reporters.

Submit application

Last Sunday, he told supporters in Portugal that he was returning to lead a "democratic fight".

He announced on social media that he intends to run for the presidency on November 23 and wanted to meet the September 26 deadline to submit his application.

Pereira has been a long-time opponent of President Umaro Sissoco Embalo and stood against him at the last presidential elections.