Keypoints:
- Hundreds march in Bissau against the military takeover
- Opposition leader Domingos Simoes Pereira remains detained
- ECOWAS leaders meet in Abuja with sanctions on the table
HUNDREDS of demonstrators flooded the streets of Guinea-Bissau’s capital, Bissau, on Friday, intensifying public opposition to last month’s military coup as regional leaders prepare to meet to decide the country’s political future. The protests, marked by clashes with security forces, reflect deepening anger over the overthrow of the elected government and the detention of senior opposition figures.
According to TRT World, protesters burned tyres, blocked major roads and chanted slogans demanding the release of Domingos Simoes Pereira, leader of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cabo Verde (PAIGC). Relatives and security sources say Pereira was arrested during the coup, a move that opposition groups describe as politically motivated and unlawful.
Protests turn confrontational
Friday’s demonstration was organised by opposition parties and civil society organisations, many of which argue that the military has subverted the democratic process at a critical moment. The coup took place just one day before the electoral commission was due to announce the results of legislative and presidential elections, leaving voters without clarity on the outcome of the polls.
Security forces moved in to disperse the crowds, leading to confrontations in several parts of the city. While no official figures were released, witnesses reported the use of tear gas and batons as officers attempted to clear protesters from key intersections.
‘We do not recognise the transitional government,’ civil society activist Vigario Luis Balanta said at a press conference in Bissau. He urged citizens to observe a general strike and called for a week of civil disobedience, signalling plans to escalate resistance beyond street protests.
Youth voices dominate the streets
Young people formed a visible and vocal part of the demonstrations, framing the crisis as a struggle over national sovereignty and the future of the country. ‘We are the youth and we are the future of this country,’ said protester Antonio Sami. ‘We will never, ever accept that our sovereignty be called into question.’
Opposition figures say the arrests of political leaders and activists since the coup are intended to intimidate critics and weaken organised resistance. The transitional military authorities could not be reached for comment on Friday.
From ballot box to barracks
Army officers removed President Umaro Sissoco Embalo from office on November 26, installing Major-General Horta Inta-a as interim leader the following day. The junta suspended the constitution and dissolved key state institutions, promising to restore civilian rule after a transition period.
On Tuesday, the military government unveiled a 12-month transitional charter, barring Inta-a and his prime minister from contesting future elections. The junta says the roadmap is designed to stabilise the country and prepare credible polls, but opposition leaders argue it lacks legitimacy and was imposed without public consultation.
ECOWAS weighs sanctions
The unrest comes ahead of a meeting of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Abuja, Nigeria, where Guinea-Bissau’s situation is expected to feature prominently. Sierra Leone’s foreign minister, Timothy Musa Kabba, said last week that the bloc would consider sanctions against the country.
ECOWAS has increasingly positioned itself as a bulwark against unconstitutional changes of government, particularly after a surge of military takeovers across the region. Guinea-Bissau’s coup is the ninth in West and Central Africa in the past five years.
A familiar pattern of instability
Guinea-Bissau has a long history of political instability and military intervention. Since independence, no elected president has completed a full term without interruption. The country is also widely regarded as a major cocaine trafficking hub, a factor analysts say has fuelled corruption and entrenched military influence in politics.
As protesters vow to sustain pressure and regional leaders deliberate on possible punitive measures, Guinea-Bissau once again stands at a critical juncture, caught between promises of transition and a record of repeated political rupture.
