Bissau-Guinean Military Frees Leader of Country's Oldest Party: Reports
Bissau-Guinean Military Frees Leader of Country's Oldest Party: Reports
Domingos Pereira of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde was arrested near Osvaldo Vieira International Airport following the November 26 military coup, along with several other prominent politicians.
Opposition organizations united under the Popular Front demanded his release, calling on the people of Guinea-Bissau to engage in civil disobedience. They were joined by the ECOWAS and the African Union.
On November 23, presidential and parliamentary elections were held in Guinea-Bissau. On November 26, even before the results were announced, the military seized power in a coup, ousting President Umaro Sissoco Embalo.
They announced the suspension of all state institutions and the transfer of power to the Supreme Military Command for the Restoration of Order. Major General Horta Inta-a was appointed its head, and on November 27, he assumed the presidency for a transitional period.
The military ordered the vote count to cease. They arrested several politicians, including Pereira, whose candidacy had been withdrawn before the elections.
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