The ruling military junta in Guinea-Bissau has released six opposition politicians who had been detained since the army seized power in a coup last month, a move described as a conciliatory gesture.
The High Military Command, the junta’s governing body, announced the release on Tuesday, stating it was a “sign of good faith and a compromise for the return to constitutional normality and respect for international rights.”
The freed individuals are close associates of Domingos Simoes Pereira, the head of the PAIGC party—the nation’s independence movement—who remains in custody. The army ousted outgoing President Umaro Sissoco Embalo on November 26, suspending the electoral process and announcing a one-year period of military control.
Regional Pressure and Asylum
The releases follow a visit on Sunday by Senegal’s Foreign Minister, who led a delegation to meet with detained opponents and request their freedom.
The coup has drawn condemnation from the West African regional bloc, ECOWAS, which this month threatened “targeted sanctions” against anyone obstructing the country’s return to civilian rule.
In the aftermath of the takeover, another opposition candidate, Fernando Dias, sought and was granted asylum at the Nigerian embassy in Bissau, while President Embalo fled the country after a brief detention.
Guinea-Bissau, which gained independence from Portugal in 1974, has experienced four successful military coups and numerous attempted insurrections, underscoring its persistent political instability.
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Disclaimer:
This report is based on international news agency reports and official statements from Guinea-Bissau. The political situation in the country remains fluid. CDA News Nigeria is an independent digital news platform.
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