Flavio Batica Ferreira, an opposition lawmaker in Guinea-Bissau, was arrested during a ceremony linked to alleged coup rituals. His detention has sparked claims of political motivations amidst ongoing tensions with President Umaro Sissoco Embalo’s administration. Ferreira had raised concerns about his safety prior to his arrest, set against the backdrop of a disputed electoral mandate and previous attempts to dissolve parliament.
Authorities in Guinea-Bissau have apprehended opposition lawmaker Flavio Batica Ferreira during a purported mystical ceremony involving sacrifices believed to enhance coup prospects. Ferreira, holding dual nationality in Bissau-Guinea and France, was taken into custody on Sunday near Pitche, near the Guinea-Conakry border, alongside a claimed Muslim supernatural seer and two others. Currently, Ferreira is detained at the interior ministry in Bissau, according to sources close to him.
The arrest occurs amid rising coup rumors, with a security source noting that ceremonies and sacrifices were orchestrated to ensure the success of such attempts. Human rights activist Abubacar Ture contends that the arrest appears politically motivated, revealing Ferreira had previously articulated fears for his safety. Ture stated, “I believe the reason must be political.”
Ferreira’s detention is set against a backdrop of political tension between the PAIGC party and President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, whose term’s end the opposition asserts is February 27, 2025, five years post his 2020 inauguration, a timeline contrasted by a Supreme Court ruling extending his mandate to September 4. In December 2023, Embalo dissolved the opposition-controlled parliament following an alleged coup attempt and subsequently postponed upcoming legislative elections indefinitely.
The arrest of Flavio Batica Ferreira highlights the ongoing political instability in Guinea-Bissau, characterized by allegations of coup plots and dissenting views regarding presidential term length. The implications of his detention reveal a complex intersection of political tensions and potential human rights concerns. As the situation evolves, scrutiny over the motivations behind such actions remains critical, especially within the context of the country’s history of coups.
Original Source: newscentral.africa
