Guinea-Bissau Opposition Pauses Protests for National Day
Two of Guinea-Bissau’s major opposition coalitions have called off a series of nationwide protests originally scheduled for this week, citing a desire to avoid conflict during the country’s high-profile military and independence celebrations.
The PAI-Terra Ranka and API coalitions announced the suspension of the demonstrations during a joint press conference on Thursday. The decision follows days of coordination between the groups, who had planned to take to the streets to protest what they describe as an “abuse of power and lack of democracy” under the current administration.
Honor for the “Freedom Fighters”
The protests were slated to begin Friday and continue through Saturday, November 16. However, Saturday marks the 60th anniversary of the Armed Forces and the official celebration of Guinea-Bissau’s 51st anniversary of independence. The government is expected to host several foreign dignitaries for the ceremonies in Bissau.
“As political leaders, we have an obligation not only to show bravery but, above all, to lead the people to a safe harbor,” said Domingos Simões Pereira, leader of the PAI-Terra Ranka coalition and elected president of the Guinean parliament. “Let the celebration take place.”
Baciro Dja, representing the Inclusive Patriotic Alliance (API), emphasized that the decision was made out of respect for the country’s history. “We decided to wait out of respect for the freedom fighters of the fatherland,” Dja said, though he pointedly reminded the public that the Armed Forces must remain “subordinate to politicians.”
Political Tensions Remain High
While the immediate threat of street unrest has dissipated for the weekend, the underlying political crisis remains. Simões Pereira accused certain actors of attempting to “instrumentalize the Armed Forces” against political opponents of the current regime. He clarified that while the opposition respects the military, they view the lavish celebrations as a misuse of national funds.
“It is not possible that while people are dying in our hospitals for lack of saline, a party is being held where millions are spent,” Simões Pereira said. He noted that the funds for the event were requested from abroad in the name of the nation’s founder, Amílcar Cabral, making the expenditure even more controversial.
A Warning for the Future
The pause in demonstrations appears to be temporary. The opposition leaders warned that their political agenda would resume on November 17, immediately following the festivities. This agenda is expected to include fresh calls for public mobilization.
In a move to alert international observers, the coalitions sent open letters to the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces and the President of the ECOWAS Commission. Regarding the appeal to the regional bloc, Simões Pereira remained defiant. “If the international community comes, they will be welcome,” he said. “But if they prefer not to come, we will also be here to take our responsibilities and our destiny into our own hands.”
Image: Pexels – Yogendra Singh
