Guinea-Bissau: PAIGC Slams ‘Illegal’ State Seizure of HQ
Domingos Simões Pereira, president of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), has accused the current authorities in Guinea-Bissau of illegal expropriation after the state seized the party’s national headquarters in Bissau.
The seizure occurred on Wednesday when authorities placed a sign in front of the building declaring it the heritage of the Guinean State. The move followed a seven-day ultimatum issued by the Military High Command, which ordered all political parties to vacate offices located within 500 meters of “sovereign bodies,” including military barracks, police stations, and embassies.
‘A Breach of Property Rights’
In a social media post from Lisbon, where he currently resides, Simões Pereira condemned the action as a fundamental violation of property rights. He argued that even if the government could restrict the use of a building for security reasons, it has no legal right to claim ownership of it.
“It is one thing to say a party headquarters cannot operate here,” Simões Pereira stated. “It is another, completely different thing to say this property no longer belongs to its owner.”
The PAIGC leader maintains that the building is the party’s legitimate property under Law No. 3/91. He argued that proximity to government installations does not extinguish property rights, adding that “property does not change ownership just because a door was closed.”
Political Instability Continues
The party has challenged the authorities to present a legal basis for the occupation in court, warning that Guinea-Bissau desperately needs legal certainty and justice. This latest confrontation adds to the friction following the military coup on November 26, 2025, which ousted President Umaro Sissoco Embaló just a day before election results were to be announced.
Since the coup, the country has been governed by a National Transition Council (CNT) and an appointed Prime Minister, Ilídio Vieira Té. Opposition groups have slammed the transition as a staged maneuver to allow Sissoco Embaló—who is currently living in Morocco—to return to power through military-scheduled elections set for December 6.
The media environment in the country remains restricted. The Lusa agency’s delegation in Guinea-Bissau has been suspended since August 2025, following the government’s expulsion of Portuguese media representatives. Coverage of the ongoing crisis continues to be managed remotely.
Image: Pexels – Tope J. Asokere
