Guinea-Bissau: Groups Demand Release of Political Prisoners
Civil society organizations and international observers are mounting pressure on Guinea-Bissau’s military leadership, demanding the immediate release of political prisoners and a swift return to constitutional rule. The coalition, which includes the Guinea-Bissau Bar Association and the African think tank Afrikajom Center, issued a forceful statement on Friday calling for an end to arbitrary detentions and systemic impunity.
Demands for Justice and Human Rights
The joint declaration, drafted following a human rights summit in Dakar, calls for “independent and swift investigations” into allegations of summary executions and other grave human rights violations. The organizations emphasized that the government must respect judicial independence and uphold guarantees for fair trials—standards they argue have been sidelined since the military takeover.
To resolve the current political stalemate, the signatories are advocating for a “consensual roadmap” to restore democratic order. This includes clarifying the status of the electoral process that was abruptly interrupted in November 2025 and fostering a national dialogue to rebuild public trust.
The Release of General Daba Na Walna
The calls for reform come just as the Military High Command complied with a long-ignored court order to release General Daba Na Walna, the former president of the Superior Military Court. Na Walna had been held for a year at a Bissau police station following accusations of involvement in an attempted coup.
His lawyer, Augusto Nasambé, revealed that the General’s detention was part of a larger political scheme. “The intention was clear: to force the detainees to accuse the leader of the PAIGC [African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde], Domingos Simões Pereira, of being the mastermind behind the alleged coup,” Nasambé stated. “It was an attempt to decapitate the party’s leadership.”
A Nation in Limbo
Guinea-Bissau has been under military control since late 2025. While new elections were initially slated for December 6, 2026, the transitional government’s Prime Minister, Ilídio Vieira Té, recently admitted that conditions are not yet met to hold the vote. Instead, he has proposed a “broad national dialogue” to determine a new electoral calendar.
The international community is watching closely. The civil society coalition has called for the reactivation of the “Group of Five” (P5)—comprising the UN, AU, EU, ECOWAS, and CPLP—to coordinate mediation efforts. A mission from the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) is scheduled to arrive in Bissau on November 3 to assess the situation. The country remains suspended from CPLP activities until constitutional order is restored.
Note: Coverage of these events is being conducted remotely as the Lusa news agency delegation in Guinea-Bissau remains suspended following the government’s expulsion of Portuguese media representatives in August 2025.
Image: Pexels – marco allasio
