Clashes in Bissau: Arrests After Shooting.
Bissau once again became the scene of intense and violent clashes, this time between the Presidential Palace battalion and the National Guard, triggered by the arrest of two members of the executive.
The Minister of Finance, Suleimane Seide and the Secretary of State for the Treasury, António Monteiro, were arrested as part of an investigation into a suspicious payment of six billion CFA francs to 11 businessmen.
The Reactions
The Inclusive Alliance Platform Coalition (PAI) – Terra Ranka, which leads the government, accuses the presidential battalion of “disproportionate and unreasonable” use of force. Sources from the coalition claim that the National Guard, in protecting members of the government, was the target of a “coup of force by the Presidency of the Republic.”
The situation escalated with an exchange of fire during the night and morning, leading the coalition to appeal for urgent intervention from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The coalition considers it essential to put an end to the “indiscriminate use of violence” and guarantee the “normal functioning of institutions” through the mediation of ECOWAS.
Clashes on the Streets of Bissau
Tension persists, with shots from light and heavy weapons heard since the early hours of the morning in Bissau. The National Guard and the Presidential Palace Battalion are at the center of the clashes, while the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces and the Guinean President are outside the country.
The leader of the presidential battalion was detained after an attempt to free the detained members, culminating in gunfire. The situation, initially chaotic, appears to be under control, according to military authorities.
The detention of government members is related to the alleged irregular withdrawal of 10 million dollars of state funds. After being questioned by an anti-corruption investigation, they were detained so as not to compromise the investigations.
However, the intervention of the National Guard, armed with AK-47s and bazookas, resulted in their removal from their cells and transfer to an unknown location.
The Background
Guinea-Bissau, historically marked by coups and attempted coups since independence from Portugal in 1974, faces yet another turbulent chapter in its political trajectory. The relationship between the armed forces, the government and the opposition remains tense, while the international community watches the ongoing events with apprehension.
In February last year, the president said he survived a coup attempt after being the target of heavy gunfire for five hours, in an incident in which 11 people died.
Without giving details, he said that the attack was linked to drug trafficking in the country. However, some doubted the official version of events, amid questions including who was really behind the attempt, how many people were involved and who was in charge.
Conclusion
In a country marked by a turbulent history of coups and political instability, recent events in Bissau reveal the complexities of the Guinean political landscape. The dynamics between different factions, the fragility of institutions and the historical roots that shape the tumultuous present have been the constant practice.
Given the current chaos, it is imperative to examine the prospects for the future of Guinea-Bissau, so that democracy can be finally and definitively established.
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Picture: © DR
