PAIGC Fights ‘Illegal’ Military Eviction in Guinea-Bissau
The African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) has launched a fierce legal and political counter-attack against a recent decree by Guinea-Bissau’s Military Command, labeling an order to vacate its historic headquarters as “absolutely illegal.”
A Threat to Political Heritage
In a resolution passed Thursday during a virtual meeting chaired by party leader Domingos Simões Pereira, the PAIGC Permanent Commission argued that the military lacks the constitutional authority to issue eviction notices. The party maintains that such decisions fall exclusively under the jurisdiction of the judiciary.
The controversy stems from a Monday directive issued by the High Military Command—the junta that seized power in a November 2025 coup. The military has ordered all political parties to relocate their offices if they are situated within 500 meters of sovereign state institutions, military barracks, hospitals, or diplomatic missions. Parties were given a seven-day deadline to comply.
The PAIGC and the Movement for Democratic Alternation (Madem G15) both maintain their national headquarters in close proximity to the presidential palace in the capital, Bissau.
Historical Roots and Political Targets
The PAIGC argues that its headquarters in Praça dos Heróis Nacionais is more than just an office; it is a symbol of the nation’s birth. The building was granted to the party permanently following national independence to honor its role in the liberation struggle against colonial rule. Under Guinean law, the party asserts, the building is their “legitimate heritage.”
Party leaders have accused former President Umaro Sissoco Embaló of orchestrating the eviction from behind the scenes. Although Embaló was ousted in the November 26 coup and currently resides in Morocco, the PAIGC claims the Military Command is acting as his proxy to dismantle the political opposition before upcoming elections.
Rising Tensions Ahead of December Elections
In response to the threat, the PAIGC has approved a strategy of resistance that includes:
- Initiating legal action to protect party property.
- Holding the Military Command liable for the potential loss of irreplaceable historical archives housed at the headquarters.
- Securing provisional spaces to ensure that preparations for the party’s 11th congress remain on track.
The PAIGC has called on its supporters to remain vigilant and urged the military to “prioritize inclusive dialogue” and end “political persecution.”
Guinea-Bissau remains in a state of political volatility following the military takeover last year, which occurred just one day before election results were to be announced. The opposition has long characterized the event as a “staged coup” intended to clear the way for Embaló to return to power. The military has scheduled new presidential and legislative elections for December 6, 2026.
International coverage of the crisis remains restricted; the Lusa agency has been operating remotely since the Bissau-Guinean government expelled Portuguese media representatives in August 2025.
Image: Pexels – Qing Luo
