Bissau-Guinean civil society seeks justice for two alleged deaths
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on O Democrata
Bissau-Guinean civil society organisations are calling for independent investigations into the alleged executions of Mamadu Tanu Barri and Vigário Luís Balanta, as well as torture and abductions. The Dakar Joint Declaration also calls for political detainees to be freed and constitutional order restored, O Democrata reports.
Bissau-Guinean civil society organisations have called for independent and swift investigations into the alleged summary executions of Mamadu Tanu Barri and Vigário Luís Balanta, as well as allegations of torture and abductions in Guinea-Bissau. The demand is contained in the Dakar Joint Declaration, adopted on 29 October 2026 on the sidelines of an international summit on human rights in the country, O Democrata reports.
The signatories are calling for those responsible for violations to be prosecuted, victims and witnesses to be protected, and the independence of the judicial system to be strengthened. They are also demanding the release of civilians and military personnel detained on allegedly political grounds, as well as the implementation of court decisions.
The declaration calls for dialogue among political forces, civil society, the diaspora and women's organisations to define a return to constitutional order and clarify the electoral process suspended in November 2025. It also advocates restoring freedom of expression, the press, assembly and demonstration, as well as holding free and credible elections.
The organisations are also calling for the reactivation of the P5 Group, which brings together ECOWAS, the African Union, the CPLP, the European Union and the United Nations, and for the creation of a joint monitoring mechanism. The declaration comes after the Bissau-Guinean prime minister accelerated the investigation into Balanta's death, announced on 30 October 2026.
