Guinea-Bissau: ECOWAS Demands Release Of Imprisoned Opposition Figures

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has called on Guinea-Bissau’s military-led authorities to release all detained political figures without conditions.

The appeal came in a statement issued at the close of a heads-of-state summit held in Sierra Leone, which noted that such a move would “bolster the credibility” of the nation’s transition process.

Among those the bloc wants freed is former prime minister and opposition leader Domingos Simões Pereira, who was returned to detention earlier this month.

He faces allegations of financial crimes and links to a suspected coup plot in October 2025, claims he rejects.

Pereira is among a number of politicians detained by the military since it took control of the country in November of last year, ousting President Umaro Sissoco Embalo.

The takeover happened just a day before results from the presidential and legislative elections were set to be announced by the electoral commission.

Since then, Guinea-Bissau’s military leadership has put in place a one-year transitional charter, approved in December, which mandates that fresh presidential and legislative elections take place within 12 months.

Instability has been a recurring feature of Guinea-Bissau’s history since it broke from Portuguese rule in 1974. In that time, only one president has managed to serve out a complete term.