Bissau, July 11, 2025 (Lusa) - The President of Guinea-Bissau said on Friday that the United States will begin construction of its embassy in Bissau, which was closed 27 years ago following the political and military conflict in Guinea-Bissau.
The work will begin shortly after the rainy season, which normally ends in October, on land already acquired by the US government, said Umaro Sissoco Embaló.
The Guinea-Bissau president made the announcement today in Bissau during a review of his recent visit to the United States, together with four other African leaders, at the invitation of US President Donald Trump.
Regarding the visit and meeting with the US leader, Sissoco Embaló said it was normal, as it had been with the Presidents of Russia, Vladimir Putin, China, Xi Jinping, and France, Emmanuel Macron.
Embaló said he had said this same thing to someone who asked him on Thursday, during a visit to a peace institute in Washington, how he felt after meeting Donald Trump.
"I told him that I met with my counterpart, it's like meeting with President Xi Jinping or Putin, although he is an impressive man," said the Guinea-Bissau president.
Umaro Sissoco Embaló said he repeated to Trump that Guinea-Bissau "is a sovereign and non-aligned country" to which no one can dictate what to do or visit.
"We are poor, but we are dignified," Embaló observed, stressing, however, that the country is open to receiving American businesspeople looking for business opportunities, which he told Trump exist in Guinea-Bissau.
The Guinea-Bissau head of state said he had informed the US leader that Guinea-Bissau, although not yet exploiting natural resources, could have potential in these areas, as it is located in the same basin as countries such as Senegal and Guinea-Conakri.
These two countries, said Embaló, have and are already exploiting various natural resources.
The Guinea-Bissau president took advantage of the meeting with journalists to announce that he will make a state visit to the US later this year, before the Guinean legislative and presidential elections, which he himself has set for 23 November.
MB/AYLS // AYLS
Lusa
