Guinea-Bissau junta purges more Embalo allies from transitional government

In Guinea-Bissau, two members of the transitional government were dismissed by junta leader General Horta N’tam on Tuesday, October 6, in an ongoing purge of allies of former President Umaro Sissoco Embalo. The dismissed officials are Embalo’s brother, former Interior Minister General Mamasaliu Embalo, and Fisheries Minister Virginia Maria da Cruz Godinho Pires Correia, a reputed Embalo loyalist. Both were replaced immediately, with Antonio Suca Ntchama taking over the Interior and Fidelis Forbs assuming the Fisheries portfolio. The moves come after Embalo was blocked from returning to Bissau on Sunday, despite declaring his candidacy for the December 6 presidential election. The strategic posts—Interior and Fisheries, which accounts for over 5% of GDP—signal a power shift centered on Prime Minister Ilídio Vieira Té and army chief General Tomas Djassi.