Lisbon, Sept. 17, 2026 (Lusa)- Guinea-Bissau's transitional prime minister said the country has entered a new institutional phase that «requires the full transparency of presidential roles» and formal political processes, and he acknowledged that he leads the Guinean People's Party.
Ilídio Vieira Té's views appeared in a lengthy exclusive interview with Forbes África Lusófona magazine, in which, among other topics, he addressed head-on, for the first time, his relationship with former Guinean President Umaro Sissoco Embaló.
When asked about the close relationship he maintained with Umaro Sissoco Embaló, for whom he served as finance minister and election campaign director, Vieira Té chose to acknowledge the past while drawing clear lines regarding the present and the future: «I have always felt comfortable affirming what forms part of my political journey. (...) There was political and institutional trust between us, and I consider it sensible to maintain that part of history today, even though political circumstances have changed. Acknowledging the past is one thing; remaining politically beholden to it is quite another.» The prime minister emphasised that, since taking the helm of the government following the transition on 1 November 2025, he is accountable to the state and the Guinean people, and «to the current leadership and party structures».
«I maintain the respect that should exist between people who have worked together with President Umaro Sissoco Embaló… That does not imply political subordination, dependence or an obligation to agree. Today, my decisions as prime minister are determined by what I consider to be in the best interests of Guinea-Bissau,» he stated.
In the interview with Forbes África Lusófona, the transitional prime minister addressed, for the first time, the creation of the Guinean People's Party (PPG), acknowledging that he is the project's leader and assuring that it is intended solely to serve the Guinean people.
Guinean political circles and social media have identified Embaló as the mastermind behind the new party, with Ilídio Vieira Té said to be merely a frontperson.
«In the PPG, leadership and decision-making centres will always be transparent and accountable (...). The PPG exists solely to serve the Guinean people and will not function as an extension, substitute, or platform for any other political force. (…) The PPG will forge its own identity, present its programme to the country and build alliances (…) based on principles, programmes and national interests, rather than on personal loyalties», emphasised Vieira Té.
The politician noted that the new party emerges after «deep reflection» on the paths Guinea-Bissau needs to take «in this new phase», which, he said, will be based on promoting competence, accountability, closeness to citizens, social justice, economic modernisation and patriotism.
Ilídio Vieira Té said he assumed power «at one of the most delicate moments» in the country's recent history and that he set the main objective of the transition as safeguarding the state and laying «solid foundations» for a return to institutional normality through elections.
The transitional president, General Horta Inta-a, has scheduled the parliamentary and presidential elections for 6 December.
When asked whether he intended to stand as a candidate in the presidential elections, Vieira Té made no secret of his «constant willingness» to serve Guinea-Bissau wherever he felt he could be of use, but emphasised that a presidential candidacy «is too important a decision to be treated as mere personal ambition or announced through speculation».
He reiterated that his absolute priority and primary responsibility at present is to lead the government of Guinea-Bissau and bring the transition process to a responsible conclusion.
Ilídio Vieira Té clarified, however, that when a formal decision on this matter is taken, it will be done transparently, strictly within the framework of party institutions and the law.
Asked to comment on the recent adoption of a new Constitution, which essentially strengthened the president's powers, the prime minister said the measure alone will not bring about change in the country.
«We could draft the best Constitution in the world. If we continue to turn opponents into enemies, institutions into partisan tools and political differences into crises of state, we will continue to face problems,» he warned.
The Guinean military staged a coup d'état on 26 November 2025, one day before the results of the parliamentary and presidential elections were due to be published, and removed then-President Umaro Sissoco Embaló from power.
They established a National Transitional Council (CNT), which assumed the powers of parliament, and appointed Ilídio Vieira Té as prime minister and minister of finance.
The opposition considered this to be a staged coup d'état designed to allow Sissoco Embaló, who has been living in Morocco on a regular basis since the coup, to return to power through new presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled by the military for 6 December.
*** The Lusa news agency's bureau in Guinea-Bissau has been suspended since August 2025 after the government expelled representatives from the Portuguese media. Coverage is being provided remotely *** ANP/ADB // ADB.
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