Guinea-Bissau Opposition Pauses Protests for National Holidays
Two major opposition coalitions in Guinea-Bissau have suspended a series of planned nationwide demonstrations to avoid clashing with upcoming Independence Day and Armed Forces Day celebrations.
The Inclusive Alliance Platform (PAI-Terra Ranka) and the Inclusive Patriotic Alliance (API) made the announcement during a joint press conference on Thursday. The decision marks a temporary pause in a period of heightened political tension as the country prepares to mark the 60th anniversary of its military and the 51st anniversary of its independence on Saturday, November 16.
Respect for “Freedom Fighters”
Domingos Simões Pereira, leader of PAI-Terra Ranka and the elected president of the Guinean parliament, told reporters that the cancellation was a strategic and respectful choice. “As political leaders, we have an obligation not only to show bravery but, above all, to lead the people to a safe harbor,” Pereira said. “Let the celebration take place on November 16.”
Baciro Dja, representing the API coalition and a former Prime Minister, echoed these sentiments. He stated that the groups “weighed heavily” on the decision of whether to mobilize the public during the festivities. “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 “are subordinate to politicians.”
Criticism of Government Spending
The protests were originally organized to denounce what the opposition calls an “abuse of power and lack of democracy” under the current administration. While the street actions are paused, the rhetoric remains sharp. Pereira criticized the government for what he described as “disproportionate” spending on the festivities while the country’s public services crumble.
“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—money requested from abroad in the name of Amílcar Cabral,” Pereira remarked, invoking the name of the nation’s founding father.
A Warning to the Regime
The opposition leaders also expressed concern that the military is being used as a political tool. Pereira warned that there are efforts to “instrumentalize the Armed Forces” against those opposed to the current regime, though he stressed that the military itself is not the enemy of the political class.
The pause in demonstrations appears to be short-lived. The coalitions announced that they will resume their agendas on November 17, just one day after the official ceremonies. This future agenda may include new calls for mass protests.
Messages to the International Community
Ahead of the press conference, the coalitions signed two open letters: one addressed to General Biague Na Ntan, the Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces, and another to Omar Toure, the president of the ECOWAS Commission.
Addressing the message to the West African regional bloc, Pereira made it clear that while they welcome international observation, the opposition is prepared to act independently. “If the international community comes, they will be welcome,” he said. “But if they prefer not to come, we will be here to take our destiny into our own hands.”
Image: Pexels – A PHOTOGRAPHER एक यात्री
