Hired Voices and Fragile Parties Threaten Guinea-Bissau
The President of the Guinea-Bissau Journalists’ Guild (Ordem dos Jornalistas) has issued a stark warning regarding the country’s political future, claiming that a surge of pseudo-political parties and the rise of “hired voices” in the media are systematically dismantling democratic stability.
António Nhaga, who also serves as the editor-in-chief of the newspaper O Democrata, argued that the Bissau-Guinean political landscape has been hijacked since 2018 by groups that “call themselves political parties but, in practice, diverge from classic models of representation.”
The Rise of ‘Private Interest’ Parties
According to Nhaga, the only legitimate political foundations in the country remain the historical and traditional parties: the PAIGC, RGB, PRS, and UM. He dismissed newer formations as mere “structures for private interests” that lack ideological grounding and threaten the nation’s security.
Nhaga’s critique comes amid reports of the formation of the Guinea-Bissau Popular Party (PPG), a group allegedly linked to transitional Prime Minister Ilídio Vieira Tê. In recent days, several leaders from existing political groups have resigned from their posts, reportedly to join the unannounced PPG. Nhaga warns these new factions are often “prone to alliances with military factions to promote instability and foster coups d’état.”
A ‘Fourth Estate’ Under Siege
The political fragmentation has not only fractured traditional parties—such as the Social Renewal Party (PRS), which is currently split into multiple factions—but has also severely compromised the media. Nhaga described a “governance crisis” that has dragged down the Bissau-Guinean press, transforming some media professionals into “hired voices” who prioritize political agendas over objective reporting.
“The Bissau-Guinean information environment is characterized by increasing polarization,” Nhaga stated. He noted that journalists who attempt to scrutinize those in power are immediately labeled as opposition militants. This intentional silencing of independent voices, he argues, is a strategy designed to fuel political chaos.
Urgent Need for a United Front
To combat this “democratic erosion,” Nhaga is calling for a united front among media professionals. He believes that restoring the press as an independent “fourth estate” is the only way to return Guinea-Bissau to democratic legality and foster healthy public debate.
The Lusa agency’s delegation in Guinea-Bissau remains suspended since August 2025, following the government’s expulsion of Portuguese media representatives. This report was compiled remotely.
Image: Pexels – Dokun Ayano
