Guinea Bissau’s so-called democratic opposition, a coalition made up of fifteen political parties, has announced that it does not recognize Raymond Preira as the interim president, after the death of President Malam Becai Sanha on Monday.

Preira, the speaker of the National Assembly, was designated as the new interim leader in Bissau, although his appointment has been rejected by the opposition coalition who argued that he was not the ideal compromise candidate.

President Malan Bacai Sanha, aged 64, passed away on Monday at the Val-de-Grace Hospital, in Paris after a long battle with cancer.

Preira was rejected by the opposition alliance, led by Ibrahima Sori Diallo, a senior member of the Social Renovation Party (PRS) of Dr Koumba Yalla, the main challenger of the deceased president in a run-off held on July 26 2009.

They objected to Preira on the grounds that the speaker of parliament was accused of nepotism over the nomination of the then army chief of staff, Tagme Na Waie who was assassinated in March 2009, hours before then President Nino Vieira was also killed.

“The spokesman of the National Assembly had failed to organize the presidential election in 2009, two months after the death of President Nino Vieira, as stipulated by the constitution” the opposition claimed.

It also accused Raymond Preira of being the mastermind of the foiled coup perpetrated on 26th December 2011 with alleged connivance of the current Prime Minister, Carlos Gomis Junior.

Born on 5th May 1947, President Sanha had been taken ill since he was elected into office in a runoff against former President Dr. Koumba Yalla in 2009.

According to the country’s constitution, elections to fill the vacant presidency after the death of its occupant should be held within 90 days.

Source African Press Agency

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