Gambiaj.com – (BISSAU – Guinea-Bissau) – Guinea-Bissau’s leading opposition figure, Domingos Simões Pereira, has been summoned to appear before a military tribunal on Friday, February 13, in a move that has deepened political tensions in the country and raised fresh concerns about the credibility of the transition process ahead of elections scheduled for December.
No official reason has been communicated to Pereira for the summons. However, military sources indicate that the case may be linked to an alleged coup attempt said to have taken place in October last year.
The opposition leader, who heads the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), has not publicly commented on the accusations, having been effectively confined to his residence and barred from making public statements.
The summons comes amid what the PAIGC describes as sustained pressure and “systematic attacks” against the party, which it attributes to actions orchestrated by former president Umaro Sissoco Embaló from exile.
Party officials say the current climate reflects a broader campaign to weaken the opposition at a critical political juncture.
Restrictions With PAIGC, Open Doors to Embalò’s Emissaries
Political tensions intensified further on Friday, February 6, as two close allies of Embaló were received in Bissau by General Horta N’Tam, head of the military authorities, at the presidential palace.
According to sources familiar with the meeting, the emissaries sought security guarantees to facilitate the former president’s return to the country. The visit coincided with continued restrictions on the PAIGC, including the prolonged closure of its headquarters.
The military authorities have also ordered the PAIGC to change its party flag, citing a recent constitutional revision that prohibits political parties from using national symbols. Opposition figures argue that the measure is selectively enforced and aimed at undermining the party’s historical identity.
According to a military source, General Horta N’Tam and his command accuse Simões Pereira of involvement in the alleged October 2025 putsch, in addition to earlier threats of prosecution in a corruption-related case.
The opposition strongly rejects the claims. “It is a curious accusation coming from those who themselves seized power through a coup,” said a PAIGC member currently in exile in Lisbon.
Concerns are also mounting within the broader opposition over the integrity of the upcoming elections.
Another senior opposition figure warned that the credibility of the December polls is increasingly in doubt, pointing to recent changes to the electoral code and laws governing political parties. “Under these conditions,” the official said, “it is legitimate to ask whether free and fair elections are still possible.”
As Guinea-Bissau navigates a fragile political transition, the military court summons of the country’s main opposition leader is likely to further polarize the political landscape and draw closer scrutiny from regional and international partners.
