Pereira's political nemesis President Umaro Sissoco Embaló emerged from a dissident wing of the PAIGC in 2016 which went on to create Movimento para a Alternância Democrática – Grupo 15 (MADEM – G15) out of nostalgia for the old days of semi-Soviet style state control of the economy with concomitant favouritism corruption and closeness to the military (AC Vol 59 No 7 Vaz defies sanctions & AC Vol 60 No 6)...

The bloc's current chair Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embaló met Traoré on 11 January and pleaded for the military arrangement with France to remain describing Paris as a partner that 'can be very useful in intelligence and in this fight against jihadism'...

New Vice-President Tiémoko Meyliet Koné made his diplomatic début visiting Guinea-Bissau for talks with President Úmaro Sissoco Embaló in the week-ending 7 May...

Inside a special cabinet meeting was in session headed by President Úmaro Sissoco Embaló and his Prime Minister Nuno Nabiam (AC Vol 63 No 2 Oil-sharing deal fires up row)...

And in Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embaló looks increasingly isolated amid the turbulent local politics...

Earlier Guinea-Bissau's President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and Senegal's Macky Sall had discreetly signed the revenue-sharing agreement for the zone established in 1993...

Ecowas has also been made aware of the inconsistencies of its own position not least by the presidents of two smaller Ecowas member states Liberia's George Weah and Guinea-Bissau's Úmaro Sissoco Embaló (to whom Condé was implacably hostile) have said that coups should be no surprise when presidents do not respect their own constitutions...

Similarly Úmaro Sissoco Embaló's election in Guinea Bissau meant that the close if volatile relationship between the MFDC and that country's long-ruling party was at an end (AC Vol 61 No 5 They're back)...