Gambiaj.com – (BISSAU, Guinea-Bissau) – The leader of Guinea-Bissau’s main opposition party, Domingos Simões Pereira, remains under house arrest after appearing before military prosecutors over allegations linking him to an alleged coup attempt in October 2025.
Pereira, president of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), was questioned on Thursday by the Public Prosecutor’s Office within the military justice system regarding claims that he was involved in an attempt to overthrow the constitutional order on October 25, 2025.
The hearing marked a significant development in the case, as Pereira had previously appeared before investigators in February only as a witness. This time, authorities questioned him over suspicions that he provided material, financial, and logistical support to those accused of organizing the alleged coup attempt.
According to court documents, prosecutors suspect Pereira of helping finance preparations for the operation and allowing meetings linked to the alleged plot to be held at his residence.
Despite the accusations, no additional restrictions were imposed following Thursday’s hearing. After more than three hours of questioning, Pereira was escorted by party officials and supporters back to his residence, where he remains under the terms of identity and residence measures imposed following his detention last year.
His lawyer, Roberto Indeque, said the opposition leader fully cooperated with investigators and answered all questions put to him.
“Domingos Simões Pereira was in no way involved in any alleged case of altering the constitutional order,” Indeque told reporters after the hearing.
The defense also emphasized that prosecutors did not impose any new coercive measures against the PAIGC leader, who is also the president-elect of Guinea-Bissau’s parliament.
Indeque challenged the legal basis of the proceedings, arguing that the Superior Military Court lacks jurisdiction over the case. According to him, offenses relating to attempted coups or altering the constitutional order fall under Guinea-Bissau’s Penal Code and should therefore be handled by civilian courts rather than military tribunals.
He further argued that military courts are intended to try military offenses committed by members of the armed forces in the exercise of their duties, noting that Pereira is a civilian politician.
The lawyer recalled that during the first hearing in February, prosecutors indicated they were satisfied with Pereira’s explanations and allowed him to leave as a witness without filing charges or applying additional restrictions.
The latest hearing nevertheless leaves the veteran opposition leader under house arrest while investigations into the alleged coup attempt continue, maintaining pressure on one of the country’s most prominent political figures ahead of a potentially contentious political period in Guinea-Bissau.
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