The city of Bissau woke up this Sunday to the usual police presence calling for protests, but without the presence of demonstrators at the march for the restoration of democracy called by two civil society platforms.

The call to take to the streets of Guinea-Bissau this Sunday was launched by the civic and social organization 'Po de Terra' (pau da terra), which was joined by the Frente Popular, a platform that brings together youth associations and unions.

The demonstration was also announced to demand an end to the suppression of fundamental freedoms in the country, in reference to the Government's order on Presidential Initiative that prohibits political and civil society actions on the streets.

The two organizations did not release details about the nationwide demonstration they called, symbolically choosing Africa Day, which falls this Sunday. Throughout the city of Bissau's various thoroughfares, the usual police presence on these occasions was visible in the early hours of the morning, but there was no apparent movement related to the protest.

The protest organizers have not yet commented on the incident. Since President Umaro Sissoco Embaló dissolved parliament in December 2023, there have been at least ten unsuccessful protest attempts in Guinea-Bissau.

The calls for these actions began with the PAI-Terra Ranka coalition, removed from the Government with the dissolution of the National People's Assembly, in December 2023, six months after taking office and without the 12 months established by the Constitution having elapsed since the election date.

The head of state claims to have used a constitutional prerogative that allows him to assess whether conditions for governability exist and through which he concluded that they did not exist.

Umaro Sissoco Embaló considered that parliament was colluding with alleged acts of corruption by the parliamentary majority government of the coalition led by the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC).

The President of the Republic replaced the executive with one initiated by the President and the President of the Assembly, Domingos Simões Pereira, leader of PAI-Terra Ranka and PAIGC, with Adja Satu Camará, from Madem G15, the party of which the Head of State is a founder.

PAI-Terra Ranka unsuccessfully attempted a first demonstration at the beginning of January 2024 and insisted again, with the same result, on January 18, after the Ministry of the Interior had banned any demonstration on public roads.

In April, he again called, unsuccessfully, for Guineans to mobilize to protest the first visit of Senegal's new President, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, to Guinea-Bissau. A month later, the Popular Front, which presents itself as a civic organization, called for a nationwide demonstration on May 18, but to no avail.

The organization repeated the appeal on August 03 with the same result and in November PAI-Terra Ranka threatened demonstrations for Armed Forces Day, November 16 and November 21, against the postponement of the early legislative elections.

PAI-Terra Ranka canceled the Armed Forces Day protest and the following one was not attended, as well as the call that the entire opposition made for the country to stop on February 27, 2025, the date on which the President of the Republic completed five years in office.

Protest organizers claim that the police and military presence and the use of tear gas intimidate and demobilize. The Head of State has, however, called general, presidential, and legislative elections for November 23, 2025.

Umaro Sissoco Embaló warned that the demonstration scheduled for this Sunday would have “an appropriate response” and stated that it was called by illegal organizations and that its promoters intend to destabilize the country.

The commissioner of the Guinean Public Order Police (POP), Salvador Soares, said he was unaware of the intentions of the two civil society platforms and warned that the police would be on the streets to ensure security and tranquility, as part of the visit that the President of Senegal is making to Bissau between Monday and Tuesday.

General Soares stated that the POP did not receive any official communication about the demonstration, a fact denied by the leaders of both platforms, according to whom the Ministry of the Interior refused to receive correspondence to communicate the demonstration.