CPLP: Guinea-Bissau Assumes Rotating Presidency
Guinea-Bissau will host the 18th Summit of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) this Friday, July 2025, XNUMX. The country assumes the rotating presidency of the organization, thus replacing São Tomé and Príncipe.
Portuguese representation remains uncertain, with President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa absent and several critical voices denouncing the choice of Bissau for the event, accusing the local government of democratic fragility.
The Summit thus faces significant challenges even before its official opening. The uncertainty surrounding Portugal's participation at the highest level raises questions about the cohesion of the Lusophone bloc, leading Guinean Foreign Minister Carlos Pinto Pereira to state that the event will proceed "whoever you are with” avoiding direct comments about the Portuguese absence.
Guinea-Bissau advocates a CPLP “transformative", focused on food sovereignty and sustainable development. The theme was chosen to reflect African priorities, but the local political crisis overshadows the agenda. Opponents of the regime accuse President Umaro Sissoco Embaló of governing without legitimacy, following the dissolution of Parliament in 2023.
The CPLP, created 29 years ago, faces the dilemma of balancing democratic principles with the rotation of the presidency. East Timor and internal voices have already questioned the decision to hand over the presidency to Guinea-Bissau. The outgoing executive secretary, Zacarias da Costa, admitted, "unfortunate statements” about the country, trying to calm things down.
The Political Panorama
The choice of Guinea-Bissau to host the summit has divided opinion within the CPLP. The PAIGC, the main opposition party, sent a letter to the bloc's Parliamentary Assembly requesting the event's cancellation. Ussumane Camará, the party's youth leader, describes Embaló's government as "illegitimate” and contrary to the rule of law.
The CPLP chose to ignore the criticism, citing the principle of “separation of powersThe organization avoids commenting on the dissolution of the Guinean Parliament or the accusations of human rights violations. For Vigário Luís Balanta, of the Pó de Terra Movement, the CPLP's silence is complicity with poor governance.
Carlos Sambú, an ally of Embaló, dismisses the criticism as “old daydreamsThe politician emphasizes that the rotating presidency is an opportunity for Guinea-Bissau to assert itself, and the local government promises to move forward with practical initiatives, such as a technical platform for food sovereignty. Despite this rhetoric, distrust persists among the Portuguese-speaking partners.
Portugal's position is also causing discomfort. The country, a founding member of the CPLP, may be represented only by the Minister of State and Foreign Affairs, Paulo Rangel, without the presence of the President or Prime Minister. Guinean Minister Carlos Pinto Pereira avoided speculating on the reasons, but the absence is seen as a sign of discontent.
The summit takes place against a backdrop of growing geopolitical tensions. Russia and Turkey are increasing their influence in Lusophone Africa, offering partnerships without democratic demands. The CPLP, traditionally pro-Western, is seeing its relevance tested by competition among world powers.
Confirmed Attendance
The 15th Summit has confirmed the attendance of five presidents and two prime ministers from among the nine member states. In addition to the host, the President of Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embaló, the heads of state of Timor-Leste, José Ramos Horta; Mozambique, Daniel Chapo; Cape Verde, José Maria Neves; and São Tomé and Príncipe, Carlos Manuel Vila Nova, are also confirmed to attend.
São Tomé and Príncipe, which will hand over the rotating presidency of the CPLP to Guinea-Bissau, will also be represented by the country's Prime Minister, Américo D'Oliveira dos Ramos. Prime Minister Mauel Osa Nsue Nsua will represent Equatorial Guinea at the Bissau summit.
Angola is represented by Foreign Minister Téte António, and Brazil is sending Ambassador Carlos Sérgio Sobral Duarte, the Secretary for Africa and the Middle East of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to the summit. Former President Joaquim Chissano will also be arriving in Bissau from Mozambique.
The list of heads of state and government of the CPLP and associated observer countries also includes the President of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye, who will visit Guinea-Bissau for the third time since taking office just over a year ago.
The diplomatic representative of the Ismaili Imamat, an entity led by the Aga Khan, Nazim Ahmad, is also participating in the CPLP summit at the invitation of the Guinean authorities.
The representative of the Ismaili Imamat also has bilateral meetings scheduled, among others, with the President, Umaro Sissoco Embaló, the Prime Minister, Rui Duarte de Barros and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Communities, Carlos Pinto Pereira.
Almost all of the heads of state and government will arrive in Bissau this afternoon, and most will return immediately after the summit closes on Friday.
The CPLP includes Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe and East Timor.
Soberania Alimentar
The official theme of the summit, “CPLP and Food Sovereignty”, tries to divert attention from political controversies. Carlos Pinto Pereira argued that nutritional security is “a right, not an idealGuinea-Bissau proposes the creation of an agricultural cooperation network among members, with technology sharing and staff training.
External dependence on food is a common problem among African CPLP countries. São Tomé and Príncipe minister Ilza Amado Vaz highlighted the need to promote local production chains. During her presidency, São Tomé and Príncipe prioritized youth and sustainability, issues that are now giving way to food emergencies.
However, critics argue that the CPLP lacks concrete action. The organization has been accused of prioritizing rhetoric over measurable results. The Guinean proposal includes a fund to finance agro-industrial projects, but details on funding sources or deadlines are lacking.
Mobility within the CPLP is another pending issue. The free movement agreement, signed in 2021, has not yet been ratified by all members. Guinea-Bissau promises to relaunch negotiations, but internal political instability undermines the country's credibility as a mediator.
Conclusion
The 15th CPLP Summit in Bissau will be marked by political divisions and Portuguese uncertainty. The organization faces the challenge of promoting food sovereignty without ignoring criticism of Guinea-Bissau's governance. The rotating presidency, designed to strengthen equality among members, is proving to be a test of the bloc's unity.
The future of the CPLP will depend on its ability to reconcile democratic principles with complex political realities. The growing influence of non-Western powers in Lusophone Africa adds additional pressure. Bissau will have to prove he can manage the presidency beyond controversy, or risk leaving a legacy of fracture.
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Picture: © 2025 Manuel de Almeida
