Guinea-Bissau: Military court refers 2025 coup case to the Supreme Court

Investigating Judge Mamadú Embaló accepted, last Tuesday, the constitutional appeal filed in case no. 1/2025, which concerns the alleged attempted coup of October 2025. He ordered that the case be transferred to the Supreme Court of Justice, marking a decisive step in the proceedings.

In his ruling, the magistrate stated that the incident was "subject to legal recourse" and that it had occurred within the last few hours. He ordered a certified copy of the order, the transmission of the military prosecutor's response to the Supreme Court, and the opening of a separate case file to address the incident.

This decision is based on Article 126, paragraph 3, of the Constitution of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, combined with Article 272 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, interpreted in reverse of paragraph 1.

The judge also ordered notification to prosecutors Estêvão da Costa, Sicly Luís Pereira and Serifo Seide, as well as the suspect's lawyers: Augusto Nansambe, Wilqueia Simente, Domingos Tangatna Tchuda and Laura Quiel Bocjam. Citizens Daba Naualna, Alexandre Patrão Indim and Aribe Infonde must also be notified through their legal representatives.

At the heart of this case is the president of the PAIGC, Domingos Simões Pereira, designated as a suspect and placed in pre-trial detention at the Bissau police station since July 10.

The case illustrates the complexity of the relationship between military and civilian justice in a country where the separation of powers remains fragile.