Africa-Press. The two main opposition leaders in Guinea-Bissau have firmly rejected an offer made by military officers who seized power following the 26 November coup, which proposed their inclusion in government in exchange for ten seats on the National Transitional Council.
The hardline stance comes just days after their release, as both leaders said that joining such a process would merely grant legitimacy to a coup-backed leadership, which they described as an attempt to “whitewash the army’s image”. Their refusal coincides with the recent return of prominent opposition figures to their homes after a difficult period following the coup.
Domingos Simões Pereira, leader of the PAIGC party, spent more than two months in detention before being released and placed under house arrest. Fernando Dias had sought refuge at the Nigerian embassy before his release, after which official orders were imposed banning him from making public statements.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said the release of opposition figures represented a first step toward a “return to constitutional order”, particularly after the military authorities announced their willingness to grant the two parties three government posts and ten seats on the National Transitional Council.
However, Fernando Dias said the offer was never formally presented to him or to Pereira, explaining that they learned of it through an ECOWAS statement, like other political actors.
“We will not tarnish our reputation,” Dias said, stressing that the proposed positions are inadequate and grant no real political influence to the opposition, making their acceptance pointless except as support for the coup leaders.
According to a member of the prime minister’s government, the army is mainly seeking to appear responsive to the regional bloc’s demands for transparency.
Despite his public refusal, Dias said he was willing to remain silent at ECOWAS’s request in order to preserve stability and avoid further complicating the political situation. He added that this position also aims to improve the chances of the full release of Pereira, who remains under house arrest without an arrest warrant or clear legal proceedings, while around ten armed men surround his home.
Political tensions therefore continue in Guinea-Bissau, amid regional efforts to restore constitutional order and continued resistance by opposition leaders to military pressure and proposed forms of “political participation” they consider illegitimate.
