The President of Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Embalo
The President of Guinea Bissau Umaoro Emballo has issued a decree dissolving the country's parliament following a failed coup attempt.
The action has however been described as illegal by the speaker of Parliament, Domingos Simoes Pereira, who is also the leader of the party with the largest seats in parliament.
Last week, there was a gun battle in the capital, Bissau, when soldiers from opposition camps faced off, while the president was attending the on-going COP 28 in Dubai. He alleged that he had survived an attempted coup and rushed back home to take charge..
In the decree dissolving parliament, president said state institutions could no longer function normally because of "complicity" by the national guard and "certain political interests". He said fresh legislative elections will be held on a future date.
Dozens of people were reported to have protested the president's action outside the parliament building.
