Arrest of Guinea-Bissau Lawmaker Amid Allegations of Coup Rituals
Guinea-Bissau authorities arrested opposition lawmaker Flavio Batica Ferreira during an alleged coup-related mystic ceremony. Ferreira, holding dual Bissau-Guinean and French nationality, was detained alongside others, raising concerns about political motivations behind the arrest amid ongoing tensions with President Umaro Sissoco Embalo’s administration. The situation reflects the country’s troubled political history with multiple coups since independence.
Guinea-Bissau’s authorities have apprehended opposition legislator Flavio Batica Ferreira, accusing him of participating in a mystic ceremony that allegedly involved sacrifices aimed at enhancing the success of a coup attempt. Ferreira, who possesses both Bissau-Guinean and French citizenship, was detained on Sunday near Pitche, along the Guinea-Conakry border, alongside a self-proclaimed Muslim seer and two other individuals.
Sources close to Ferreira state that he is currently being held at the Ministry of the Interior in Bissau. A security source noted that “rumours of a coup abound,” indicating the authorities are closely monitoring individuals who plan to instigate such actions.
Human rights advocate Abubacar Ture suggested that Ferreira’s detention could be politically motivated, referencing the lawmaker’s previous concerns regarding his safety. Ture remarked, “I believe the reason must be political,” discussing Ferreira’s arrest during a traditional ceremony.
Ferreira’s arrest follows ongoing political tensions between the opposition, particularly the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), and President Umaro Sissoco Embalo. The opposition demands that Embalo’s term end on February 27, 2025, while a Supreme Court ruling controversially extends his mandate until September 4.
In December 2023, following an alleged coup attempt, President Embalo dissolved the opposition-dominated parliament and unilaterally postponed future legislative elections indefinitely. Since gaining independence from Portugal in 1973, Guinea-Bissau has experienced numerous coups in its turbulent political history.
The arrest of Flavio Batica Ferreira highlights the rising tensions within the political landscape of Guinea-Bissau. His detention during a mystic ceremony has raised questions about political motivations behind law enforcement actions, particularly amid ongoing disputes regarding presidential terms. The context of escalating coup rumors coupled with historical political instability underscores the need for vigilance regarding democracy in the region.
Original Source: newscentral.africa
