Guinea-Bissau's top court bars opposition coalition from legislative vote

Guinea-Bissau's main opposition coalition said on Wednesday it had been notified by the Supreme Court that its candidates cannot run in upcoming legislative elections due to late applications.

The Pai Terra Ranka coalition is comprised of around 10 political parties and led by Domingos Simoes Pereira, who is separately running for president of the West African country.

Pereira is an ex-prime minster and the leader of the PAIGC party, which led Guinea-Bissau to independence and is part of Pai Terra Ranka.

Exclusion of Pai Terra Ranka's candidates from the election was confirmed to AFP by a PAIGC and Supreme Court source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Opposition to seek 'clarification' from Supreme Court

"We have been notified of a situation that excludes us from the elections", the Pai Terra Ranka source said.

The source said the coalition would ask the Supreme Court on Thursday "for clarification regarding the rejection of our application."

According to the Supreme Court source, candidate applications had to be filed 72 hours before the September 25 deadline.

"This is stipulated in the electoral code. All party leaders know this", the source said.

'Insufficient time'

The court informed the coalition on Tuesday that it would not have enough time to analyse the pile of late candidatures, the person said.

Pai Terra Ranka submitted its legislative candidacy on Tuesday along with the presidential candidacy of Pereira.

Pereira returned to Guinea-Bissau last Friday after spending nine months abroad.

President Umaro Sissoco Embalo has already filed his candidacy, making Pereira the second presidential candidate.

The two politicians faced off in the country's last presidential election in 2019, with Pereira challenging his defeat.