The United Nations has called for an immediate cessation of arbitrary detention and intimidation in Guinea-Bissau following the release of six opposition figures. This statement, issued by the UN’s Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), highlighted ongoing concerns about fundamental freedoms being undermined in the West African nation. These actions, according to the UN, may constitute enforced disappearance in some instances, amplifying the need for international attention and action.
The individuals freed included close associates of Domingos Simões Pereira, leader of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC). Their release was described as an “encouraging step” by the OHCHR, though spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan emphasized the need for further action. Al-Kheetan reiterated the necessity to end not only arbitrary detentions but also physical attacks on human rights defenders and restrictions on freedoms such as expression, association, and peaceful assembly. The statement urged the liberation of all individuals detained for exercising their human rights without conditions.
The backdrop to these events involves political turmoil in Guinea-Bissau, where soldiers recently seized control of the capital, Bissau, amid uncertainties surrounding election results. Following the coup, the military announced its full control over the government and the detention of President Umaro Sissoco Embaló. The electoral process was subsequently suspended by the new military command, further clouding the political climate learn more.
The released opposition figures, detained for 28 days, were held in a local police station. The High Military Command (HMC) that orchestrated the coup stated this decision as part of a supposed commitment to an orderly transitional process aimed at the nation’s supreme interests. Despite the release, other political figures, including leaders from the PAIGC and the Social Renewal Party (PRS), remain detained under what the military describes as considerations for “national reconciliation.”
While the release of these individuals signifies the government’s first visible response to international concerns, the OHCHR insists that these actions must be followed by substantive measures. This includes transparent handling of detentions and adherence to due process. Similar sentiments have been expressed by regional bodies such as the African Union and various international partners, urging the return to rule of law.
As the world scrutinizes the actions of Guinea-Bissau’s military leaders, the pressure mounts for them to extend their recent actions to a broader context of human rights reforms. The OHCHR and its partners are closely watching for genuine, quantifiable steps towards safeguarding basic freedoms and ensuring the protection of human rights activists under the current regime.