Hundreds of citizens took to the streets of Bissau, the capital of Guinea-Bissau, on Friday to protest last month’s military coup and demand the immediate release of detained opposition figures, including Domingos Pereira, leader of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC).
The protest, which escalated into a clash with security forces, comes amid growing local and international pressure on the junta to restore constitutional order in the Portuguese-speaking West African nation.
The military seized power shortly after the country’s presidential election, and just hours before official results were expected to be announced.
Both incumbent President Umaro Embaló and his main challenger, Fernando Dias da Costa, had declared victory in advance of the electoral commission’s declaration.
The coup plotters later installed Major-General Horta Inta-a as interim leader, triggering widespread condemnation from both domestic groups and the international community.
In response to the coup, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) suspended Guinea-Bissau from the regional bloc. The decision was announced in a communique following an emergency virtual summit of heads of state and government.
ECOWAS said it would continue to monitor the situation and is scheduled to reconvene on Sunday to discuss further steps, including the imposition of possible sanctions.
Meanwhile, the military junta has announced a transitional charter, which outlines a 12-month plan to return the country to civilian rule. The document, released on Tuesday, bars both interim leader Inta-a and his appointed prime minister from contesting in the next elections.
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