Guinea-Bissau Lawmaker Arrested Amid Allegations of Coup Rituals

Flavio Batica Ferreira, an opposition lawmaker in Guinea-Bissau, was arrested during a mystical ceremony linked to alleged coup plots. Detained near the Guinea-Conakry border, he is held at the Ministry of the Interior, amid political tensions with President Embalo. Concerns have been raised regarding the political motivations behind his arrest, contrasting with official narratives of coup attempts.

Authorities in Guinea-Bissau have detained opposition lawmaker Flavio Batica Ferreira under suspicions linked to a mystical ceremony purportedly designed to facilitate a coup. Ferreira, who holds dual citizenship in Guinea-Bissau and France, was arrested near Pitche, close to the Guinea-Conakry border, along with a self-declared Muslim spiritual advisor and two associates. Following the arrest, he is presently held at the Ministry of the Interior in Bissau.

A source close to Ferreira indicated that there are escalating rumors of a coup in the country, suggesting that the rituals performed were intended to ensure its success. The security source noted that authorities are actively monitoring the political landscape, underlining the tense atmosphere surrounding the allegations.

Human rights advocate Abubacar Ture expressed suspicions that the arrest was politically motivated, citing Ferreira’s previous concerns regarding his safety in light of the ongoing political impasse. Ture stated, “We were told that he is at the Ministry of the Interior following his arrest during a traditional ceremony. I believe the reason must be political.”

Ferreira’s detention occurs amid a protracted political standoff between the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) and President Umaro Sissoco Embalo. The opposition contends that Embalo’s presidential term ended on February 27, 2025, while the Supreme Court has ruled that it extends until September 4, 2025, a decision the opposition disputes.

The political climate has been fraught since President Embalo dissolved the opposition-controlled parliament in December 2023, following an alleged coup attempt. He has since postponed legislative elections indefinitely through presidential decree, following a history of multiple coups in Guinea-Bissau since its independence from Portugal in 1973.

In summary, the detention of Flavio Batica Ferreira raises significant concerns regarding political motivations behind his arrest during a mystical ritual. As the political tensions between the opposition and the incumbent president escalate, allegations of coup plots and political maneuvering are pervasive. The situation reflects the ongoing instability in Guinea-Bissau, prompting critical scrutiny from human rights advocates and political observers alike.

Original Source: newscentral.africa