Overview
- On Thursday the National Electoral Commission told junta leader General Horta N'Tam that conditions to organise the December 6 presidential and legislative vote would not be met, and the prime minister said the polls could not proceed as scheduled.
- The junta has moved to disarm and place under supervision parts of the presidential guard seen as loyal to exiled president Umaro Sissoco Embalo, and General Horta N'Tam ordered remaining guard members to hand over weapons.
- Authorities have barred Embalo from returning from exile to contest the election, citing security concerns after he said he planned to come back and run.
- Officials point to concrete administrative gaps that make the vote infeasible, including missed candidate filing deadlines and party leadership structures that have not held required congresses.
- Civil society groups warn the postponement and the disarmament drive deepen fears of repression and weaken the transition’s legitimacy, a risk that could affect regional diplomacy and donor support.