Economy Minister in Guinea-Bissau sacked; reasons not clear

May 16, 2022

(3 minutes read)

It is reported that president of Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embalo, has terminated the services of economy minister Victor Mandiga. The charge of the economy ministry has been given to the head of government on a temporary basis. Victor Mandiga had been in office since 2021

It is reported that president of Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embalo, has terminated the services of economy minister Victor Mandiga. The charge of the economy ministry has been given to the head of government on a temporary basis. Victor Mandiga had been in office since 2021.

The reasons attributed to his removal are vague. The presidential decree published announcing his removal said that he was replaced to “guarantee the regular functioning of institutions and for political convenience. Prime Minister Nuno Gomes Nabiam, who heads a 31-member government will hold the additional charge of fiancé.

The president and economy minster were at loggerheads. Mr Mandiga had recently denounced the encroachment of the Ministry of Finance in matters under his purview. The firewall between ministries of economy and finance are always blurred He had also spoken out against the creation of a state secretariat for regional integration. The state secretariat was placed under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which did not go well with him and believed that such actions were made to compromise with his position as the economy minister. It is reported that the economy minister has not been attending the ministerial meetings for quite some time.

Mandiga, an economist by training, heads the Democratic Convergence Party (PDC). The party has only one seat in the 102 in the National Assembly dominated by the presidential camp. Also, it may be recalled that Mandiga supported Mr Embalo’s candidacy in the second round of the 2019 presidential election.