️ The death of activist Vigario Luis Balanta, whose body was found with signs of extreme violence in a swampy area about 30 kilometers outside Bissau, the capital of Guinea-Bissau, at the end of March, has triggered widespread protests and accusations against the country’s military rulers. Witnesses told AFP that the body was “covered in blood,” “wounded all over with a bladed weapon,” and had “two bullet holes in the head.” Balanta, a 35-year-old teacher, was a leading figure in the civil society movement Po di Terra (Dust of the Earth) and a prominent critic of the military leadership that seized power in a coup four months earlier, ousting outgoing President Umaro Sissoco Embalo.

️ Balanta was kidnapped in the Pilun district of Bissau in late March, and his body was discovered two days later. The UN described it as a “brutal killing.” Civil society groups, including Po di Terra and the Bissau-Guinean League of Human Rights, have accused the transitional military regime or forces aligned with it of orchestrating Balanta’s murder. Seif Magango, spokesperson for the UN human rights office (OHCHR), said in a statement that Balanta’s death “comes amid a progressive reduction of civic and democratic space, which has accelerated in Guinea-Bissau since the November 2025 coup,” adding that opposition members and human rights defenders have faced arbitrary detention, assault, harassment, and intimidation.

️ The military government condemned the killing as a crime “under particularly violent circumstances” and pledged to investigate thoroughly, holding both perpetrators and potential backers accountable, but this pledge has been met with skepticism from critics. Balanta’s funeral in early April turned into a protest against the military rulers, with hundreds gathering at Antula Cemetery in Bissau, chanting slogans such as “We are all Vigario,” “We want justice,” and “Down with the dictatorship.” The Guinean diaspora also organized solidarity demonstrations, including in Lisbon, Portugal, calling for accountability.

️ Political tensions have risen after the government ordered private radio stations in Bissau to close, citing unpaid licensing fees of 5 million CFA francs (around $9,000). While broadcasts resumed after talks with the prime minister, negotiations continue, leaving the state of press freedom uncertain. Simultaneously, residents report severe fuel shortages, with long lines outside gas stations, although the government denies any shortage. The prime minister has publicly warned against “misinformation,” and observers say some citizens reporting shortages have faced intimidation, keeping tensions high in Bissau.

️ The military, under General Horta N’Tam, has announced plans to hold presidential and legislative elections in December and return to civilian rule. Former President Embalo, whose current whereabouts are unknown, has been accused by opposition figures and observers of orchestrating the coup to avoid losing the election and stepping down. Guinean economist and diplomat Carlos Lopes said several scenarios are possible, including that Embalo may have initiated the coup himself but now has less control over the junta than intended, noting that “revolutions often consume their own children — especially in Guinea-Bissau.”

Source: www.dw.com