Opposition lawmaker Flavio Batica Ferreira was arrested in Guinea-Bissau for allegedly conducting sacrifices during a mystic ceremony aimed at aiding a coup. This incident occurs amid political strife between Ferreira’s PAIGC party and President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, who recently dissolved parliament following coup allegations.
Guinea-Bissau authorities have detained opposition lawmaker Flavio Batica Ferreira, alleging his participation in a mystic ceremony that involved sacrifices meant to support an attempted coup. Ferreira, who holds dual Bissau-Guinean and French citizenship, was arrested on a Sunday near the Pitche region, adjacent to the Guinea-Conakry border. Alongside him, a purported Muslim seer and two others were also taken into custody.
The security source revealed that Ferreira was being held at the Ministry of the Interior in Bissau. “Rumours of a coup abound. Those who want to instigate them organised mystical ceremonies and made sacrifices to ensure their success,” they stated, emphasizing ongoing surveillance of the evolving situation.
Human rights activist Abubacar Ture criticized the legality of Ferreira’s detention, suspecting it to be politically charged. “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,” Ture commented on Portuguese radio.
This arrest occurs within a contentious political climate; Ferreira belongs to the opposition African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) amid a standoff with President Umaro Sissoco Embalo. The opposition claims Embalo’s term should conclude on February 27, 2025, while the Supreme Court supports his mandate extending to September 4, 2025, leading to ongoing tensions.
Further complicating matters, President Embalo dissolved the opposition-led parliament in December 2023, claiming a thwarted coup attempt, and postponed upcoming legislative elections indefinitely. Guinea-Bissau has struggled with a pattern of coups following its independence from Portugal in 1973, highlighting the country’s political instability and governance issues.
The arrest of Flavio Batica Ferreira in Guinea-Bissau highlights ongoing political tensions and allegations of coup activities. The opposition’s claims regarding President Embalo’s term reflect a fractured political landscape, exacerbated by allegations of politically motivated detentions. With a history of coups since independence, Guinea-Bissau remains at a critical juncture concerning its governance and political stability.
Original Source: newscentral.africa
