Gambiaj.com – (Bissau) – The Guinea-Bissau Bar Association (OAGB) has issued a strong denunciation of the country’s justice system, calling it “extremely precarious” and deeply entrenched in corruption, in a statement made public on Tuesday during a press conference marking the launch of activities for the Bar Association’s 34th anniversary.
Januário Pedro Correia, president of the Bar Association, did not mince words in his address, warning that Guinea-Bissau’s chances of attracting business investments from the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) remain bleak unless urgent reforms are made to rid the judicial sector of corruption.
“Our justice system remains hostage to obscure interests,” Correia said. “Without free and effective justice, ordinary citizens will continue to be underprivileged, and investors will turn elsewhere.”
The press briefing also served to introduce the theme of this year’s Lawyers’ Day celebration, which falls on August 8: “For a Justice that is Close, Accessible, and Inclusive.”
A series of training and public debate sessions are planned in Gabú, Bafatá, and the capital, Bissau. These will cover pressing topics such as access to justice in rural regions, gender-based violence, corruption, children’s rights, and the rule of law.
Correia raised grave concerns about the state of the country’s courts, pointing to a severe lack of basic infrastructure, legal materials, and qualified personnel. More disturbingly, he accused not just judges but also lawyers and public prosecutors of engaging in corrupt practices.
“Corruption in the Guinean judicial system is not isolated to one group—it includes lawyers, magistrates, and prosecutors,” he said, urging for a coordinated national effort involving all judicial stakeholders to clean up the system.
To address issues of professional regulation and ethical standards, Correia announced a new initiative: a Seal of the Bar Association, designed to help regulate the legal profession in accordance with Regulation No. 1/2018 of the UEMOA Commission (West African Economic and Monetary Union).
“This measure will help bring accountability and traceability to the legal practice in Guinea-Bissau,” he explained, noting that it represents a step toward restoring trust in the country’s justice system.
As Guinea-Bissau approaches its Lawyers’ Day in August, the Bar Association’s message is clear: justice reform must move from rhetoric to reality if the nation is to ensure equity for its citizens and credibility among international partners.
