Guinea-Bissau: Domingos Simões Pereira detained, voices are raised in protest

The president of the PAIGC, Domingos Simões Pereira, was taken this Friday morning, July 10, 2026, to the cells of the Second Brigade of the Public Order Police (POP) in Bissau, in accordance with the preventive detention order issued by Judge Mamadú Embaló. This measure is part of the investigation into his alleged involvement in the attempted coup of October 2025.

This is the second time the PAIGC leader has been placed in these cells since the events of November 26, which disrupted the electoral process. At the time, he was arrested and held in custody for more than sixty days. His lawyers, contacted after the information was leaked, have so far neither confirmed nor denied his arrest.

This judicial decision has sparked a wave of reactions. The Guinean League for Human Rights (LGDH) demanded his immediate and unconditional release, denouncing it as a violation of fundamental constitutional principles and the right to a fair trial. The organization particularly criticized the appointment of civilian judges to the military justice system, which it considers contrary to the principle of judicial independence. According to the LGDH, the fight against attacks on the constitutional order cannot be waged by violating the constitutional order itself.

The National Movement of Civil Society for Peace, Democracy, and Development reiterated the importance of respecting constitutional guarantees and the principle of presumption of innocence. It called for caution and restraint in order to preserve the credibility of institutions and the dignity of those involved. The movement emphasized the need for transparent and impartial procedures, free from any appearance of selectivity or manipulation.

Furthermore, the Coordination Space for Civil Society Organizations and the Popular Front, which together comprise more than fifty entities, described the ruling as "manifestly illegal." According to these platforms, the court's decision amounts to a manipulation of the justice system for political ends. They denounce a "political-judicial charade" and call upon ECOWAS to address its silence in the face of a situation they deem contrary to the principles of democracy and good governance.

They are calling for a peaceful and civic mobilization to defend the Constitution and the independence of institutions.

Beyond the differences in tone, these positions converge on one essential point: the need to guarantee the independence of the courts and respect for constitutional principles. The organizations call on national authorities to restore legality and transparency to the judicial process, while urging the international community—the United Nations, the African Union, ECOWAS, the CPLP, and the European Union—to closely monitor developments and promote initiatives aimed at safeguarding the independence of the judiciary in Guinea-Bissau.