Guinea-Bissau Military Orders Parties to Vacate Headquarters
Guinea-Bissau’s ruling Military High Command has issued a sweeping order forcing political parties to vacate any headquarters located within 500 meters of government buildings, hospitals, and diplomatic missions. The decree, announced Monday, gives political organizations a “non-extendable” seven-day deadline to relocate.
A Blow to Major Opposition Parties
The directive, formalized under Resolution No. 1/2026, cites the “pressing need” to protect sovereign bodies and maintain public order. However, the move appears to strike directly at the heart of the country’s political landscape. The African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) and the Movement for Democratic Alternation (Madem G-15) both maintain national headquarters near the Presidential Palace in the capital, Bissau. Both parties will now be forced to dismantle their central operations within a week.
The PAIGC has remained the most vocal critic of the military regime. Its leader, Domingos Simões Pereira—who serves as the elected president of the country’s parliament—has been detained twice by military forces since the November coup.
Protecting “Sensitive Areas”
The Military High Command for the Restoration of National Security and Public Order stated that the geographical restrictions are necessary to preserve “peace, tranquility, and public security.” The resolution targets headquarters near military units and “sensitive and strategic areas” as the country navigates a turbulent transition period.
The Ministry of the Interior has already begun mapping the affected areas and is preparing to formally notify the political organizations. The order went into effect immediately upon publication.
A Climate of Political Tension
The military seized power on November 26, 2025, just one day before the scheduled release of legislative and presidential election results. The coup saw the removal of then-President-elect Umaro Sissoco Embaló and the subsequent introduction of a new Constitution that significantly expands the powers of the head of state.
While the military has scheduled new elections for December 6, the opposition has dismissed the transition as a “staged coup” intended to facilitate a choreographed return to power for Sissoco Embaló. Despite opposition calls for a boycott, the National Elections Commission recently announced that a new Constitution was approved by 70% of voters in a popular referendum on August 30.
International media presence in the country remains severely restricted. The Lusa agency and other Portuguese media outlets have been operating remotely since August 2025, following the government’s expulsion of their representatives.
Image: Pexels – Qing Luo
