Guinea-Bissau Opposition Pauses Protests for Armed Forces Day
Two major opposition coalitions in Guinea-Bissau have suspended a series of planned nationwide protests out of respect for the country’s Armed Forces Day. The demonstrations, which were set to begin this Friday and continue through Saturday, were called to protest what opposition leaders describe as an “abuse of power” and a decline in democratic standards under the current administration.
A Strategic Pause for National Identity
The decision to halt the street protests was announced during a joint press conference on Thursday by Domingos Simões Pereira, leader of the Inclusive Alliance Platform (PAI-Terra Ranka), and Baciro Dja, representing the Inclusive Patriotic Alliance (API). Saturday marks the 60th anniversary of the creation of the Armed Forces and the official celebration of the 51st anniversary of Guinea-Bissau’s independence.
“As political leaders, we have an obligation not only to show bravery but, above all, an obligation to lead the people to a safe harbor,” stated Simões Pereira, who also serves as the elected president of the Bissau-Guinean parliament. “Let the celebration take place on November 16.”
Baciro Dja, a former Prime Minister and Defense Minister, noted that the decision came after deep reflection. “We decided to wait out of respect for the freedom fighters of the fatherland,” Dja said, while pointedly reminding the public that the Armed Forces remain “subordinate to politicians.”
Warnings of “Instrumentalization”
Despite the pause, the tone of the opposition remains defiant. Simões Pereira accused certain figures within the government of attempting to “instrumentalize” the military against political dissidents. He emphasized that while the opposition has no quarrel with the soldiers themselves, they strongly object to the government’s spending priorities.
“It is not possible that while people are dying in our hospitals for lack of saline solution, there is a celebration where millions are spent,” Pereira remarked, criticizing the high costs of the festivities which he claimed were funded by money requested from international donors in the name of national founder Amílcar Cabral.
A Message to the International Community
The coalitions have signaled that this is merely a temporary truce. Simões Pereira warned that starting November 17, the day after the festivities, the opposition will resume its agenda, which likely includes new calls for street demonstrations.
To formalize their position, the coalitions signed open letters to General Biague Na Ntan, the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, and Omar Touray, the President of the ECOWAS Commission. The letter to ECOWAS serves as a call for international attention to the country’s political climate.
“If the international community comes, they will be welcome,” Simões Pereira said. “But if they prefer not to come, we will also be here to assume our responsibilities and take our destiny into our own hands.”
Image: Pexels – asim alnamat
