Military Court Defers Case of Guinea-Bissau Opposition Leader
A Bissau Regional Military Court has asked the nation’s Supreme Court to decide whether it has the constitutional authority to try high-profile opposition leader Domingos Simões Pereira for his alleged involvement in a coup attempt.
Jurisdictional Dispute Over Civilian Trial
The ruling comes after defense lawyers for Simões Pereira—the leader of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) and the elected President of Parliament—challenged the military court’s jurisdiction. The defense argues that as a civilian and a holder of a high sovereign office, Simões Pereira cannot legally be tried by a military tribunal.
A Criminal Investigation Judge (JIC) accepted the defense’s motion, acknowledging that the Supreme Court of Justice is the only body empowered to rule on the constitutionality of the case. “The request regarding the incident of unconstitutionality is admitted, and its referral to the Supreme Court of Justice is ordered,” the judge stated in the ruling.
Proceedings Suspended
Until the Supreme Court issues a final verdict on the matter, all legal proceedings against the opposition leader will remain suspended. Simões Pereira, who was initially questioned as a witness, was later named a suspect in connection with an alleged coup attempt that reportedly took place last October.
Simões Pereira has been under house arrest since January. His legal troubles intensified following a separate incident on November 26, after which he spent over 60 days in detention at Bissau’s 2nd Precinct. Despite recent rumors in local media suggesting he might be returned to a prison cell, his lawyer, Roberto Indeque, stated he does not believe such a move is imminent following a June 4 hearing where no new coercive measures were applied.
Political Tension in Guinea-Bissau
The case against Simões Pereira is a focal point of ongoing political instability in the West African nation. As the head of the PAIGC, the country’s historic liberation party, his prosecution is viewed by supporters as a move to neutralize the political opposition.
International monitoring of the legal process remains difficult; the government of Guinea-Bissau suspended the Lusa news agency and other Portuguese media outlets in August, forcing journalists to cover the country’s unfolding political crisis from abroad.
Image: Pexels – K
