Africa-Press. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) urged the military-led government of Guinea-Bissau to immediately and unconditionally release all detained political figures, including opposition leader Domingos Simões Pereira, at the conclusion of a summit of heads of state in Sierra Leone, according to a statement issued by the organization.
ECOWAS added in its statement that the release of all political prisoners would “enhance the credibility of the transitional process.” Leaders in Guinea-Bissau seized power in a military coup last November and adopted a one-year transitional charter the following month.
Pereira’s family, the former prime minister and leader of the PAIGC revolutionary party, stated that an order was issued to return him to prison on July 10. He had previously been arrested on the day of the coup last year and was placed under house arrest in February, in a clear attempt to appease ECOWAS. Pereira is accused of committing economic crimes and being involved in an alleged coup attempt in October 2025, which he denies.
According to the ECOWAS statement, Guinea-Bissau will hold a constitutional referendum on August 30, followed by general elections on December 6, 2026. The government of Guinea-Bissau has not officially announced the election dates.
