Guinea-Bissau Opposition Halts Protests for Armed Forces Day
Two of Guinea-Bissau’s major opposition coalitions have called off a series of nationwide protests scheduled for this week, citing a desire to avoid conflict with the country’s high-profile Armed Forces Day and Independence celebrations.
The decision was announced Thursday during a joint press conference by Domingos Simões Pereira, leader of the Inclusive Alliance Platform (PAI-Terra Ranka), and Baciro Djá, representing the Inclusive Patriotic Alliance (API). The protests, which were set to run from Thursday through Saturday, were intended to challenge what opposition leaders describe as a systemic “abuse of power” and a decline in democratic standards under the current administration.
Respect for the “Freedom Fighters”
Saturday marks the 60th anniversary of the Armed Forces and the official celebration of Guinea-Bissau’s 51st year of independence. With foreign dignitaries expected to attend the ceremonies in Bissau, opposition leaders stated they did not want to overshadow a moment of national pride.
“As political leaders, we have an obligation not only to show bravery but, above all, 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.”
Baciro Djá, a former Prime Minister and Defense Minister, echoed these sentiments, noting that while the military must remain subordinate to civilian political authority, the coalitions chose to “wait out of respect for the freedom fighters of the fatherland.”
Strategic Postponement
Despite the cancellation, the mood remains tense. Simões Pereira warned that the Armed Forces are being “instrumentalized” by the regime to target political opponents. He emphasized that the military should not be viewed as an adversary to politicians, but rather as a national institution.
The opposition leader also criticized the government’s spending on the festivities. “It is not possible that while people are dying in our hospitals for lack of saline solution, a party is being held where millions are spent,” Pereira remarked, calling the scale of the celebrations “disproportionate.”
A Message to the International Community
Before the announcement, the coalitions signed open letters addressed to General Biague Na Ntan, the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, and Omar Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission. The letter to ECOWAS serves as a formal notice to West African neighbors regarding the political climate in Bissau.
“If the international community comes, they will be welcome,” Simões Pereira said. “But if they prefer not to come, we will be here to take our responsibilities and our destiny into our own hands.”
The respite is expected to be brief. The coalitions have confirmed that starting November 17, they will resume their political agendas, which include the possibility of rescheduling the street demonstrations.
Image: Pexels – Yogendra Singh
