Guinea-Bissau Opposition Pauses Protests for National Holidays
Two of Guinea-Bissau’s major opposition coalitions have canceled a series of nationwide protests originally scheduled for this weekend. The pause is intended to show respect for the upcoming Armed Forces Day and the 51st anniversary of the nation’s independence.
At a joint press conference on Thursday, Domingos Simões Pereira, leader of the Inclusive Alliance Platform (PAI-Terra Ranka), and Baciro Dja of the Inclusive Patriotic Alliance (API) announced the decision to postpone the demonstrations. The protests, which were set to begin Friday and continue through Saturday, were organized to challenge what the opposition describes as an “abuse of power and lack of democracy” under the current administration.
“As political leaders, we have an obligation to lead the people to a safe harbor,” said Simões Pereira, who also serves as the elected president of the Bissau-Guinean parliament. “Let the celebration take place on November 16.”
A Gesture of Respect Amid Rising Tensions
Saturday marks the 60th anniversary of the creation of the Armed Forces. The event is set to be a major state occasion in Bissau, featuring foreign dignitaries and marking over half a century of independence. Former Prime Minister and Defense Minister Baciro Dja emphasized that while the military must remain subordinate to political authority, the coalitions chose to “wait out of respect for the freedom fighters of the fatherland.”
However, the move was accompanied by sharp criticism of the government’s spending. Simões Pereira condemned the “disproportionate” cost of the festivities, contrasting the lavish celebrations with the country’s struggling infrastructure. “It is not possible that while people are dying in our hospitals for lack of saline, millions are being spent on a party,” he said.
Warning of Future Action
Despite the temporary truce, opposition leaders made it clear that their grievances remain unresolved. Pereira warned that the Armed Forces should not be “instrumentalized” against political opponents, asserting that the military are “not adversaries of the politicians.”
The coalitions signaled that the pause is fleeting. Starting November 17, both PAI-Terra Ranka and API plan to resume their political agendas, which include the possibility of calling for fresh street demonstrations immediately following the holiday.
Direct Appeals to International Observers
Prior to the announcement, the two coalitions signed open letters addressed to General Biaguê Na Ntan, the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, and Omar Touray, the president of the ECOWAS Commission.
The letter to ECOWAS serves as a formal testimony to the international community regarding the state of democracy in Guinea-Bissau. Simões Pereira struck a self-reliant tone regarding international intervention: “If the international community comes, they will be welcome, 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 – Sharefaith
