GUINEA-BISSAU’S security forces have arrested Flavio Batica Ferreira, an opposition lawmaker, during what authorities described as a ‘mystic ceremony’ allegedly intended to enhance the chances of a coup d’état, a security source told AFP on Wednesday.
Ferreira, a dual national of Guinea-Bissau and France, was detained on Sunday near Pitche, a town close to the border with Guinea-Conakry. His arrest has sparked political controversy, with a human rights advocate suggesting the real motive behind the detention may be politically motivated.
Mysticism and coup allegations
Ferreira was reportedly arrested alongside a popular seer and two other individuals, AFP sources revealed. The security official cited by AFP claimed that rumours of a coup were growing and that those involved in plotting such moves often conduct ritual ceremonies and sacrifices to ensure their success.
Authorities are said to be closely monitoring developments, but Guinea-Bissau’s Interior Ministry has not yet provided an official explanation for the arrest.
Human rights concerns
The Bissau-Guinean Human Rights League has raised concerns about the case, with its representative Abubacar Ture telling Portuguese radio that he suspects the arrest is politically driven.
‘We were informed that he is being held at the Ministry of the Interior after being arrested at a traditional ceremony. I believe the reason must be political,’ said Ture.
While he admitted he could not confirm this definitively, Ture noted that Ferreira had previously informed his family that he feared for his safety.
Political tensions and disputed term limits
The arrest comes amid rising tensions between Ferreira’s African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) and President Umaro Sissoco Embalo. The opposition disputes the duration of Embalo’s term, arguing that his mandate should end on February 27, 2025, exactly five years after his contested 2020 election victory.
However, the Supreme Court has ruled that Embalo’s term legally extends until September 4, 2025, a ruling that the PAIGC-led opposition strongly rejects.
Postponed elections and political crackdowns
Tensions escalated further in December 2023, when President Embalo dissolved parliament, which was dominated by the opposition. His decision came just days after clashes that he described as an attempted coup. Since then, the government has indefinitely postponed legislative elections, a move the opposition views as an attempt to consolidate power.
Guinea-Bissau has experienced multiple coups and political upheavals since declaring independence from Portugal in 1973. The country remains one of West Africa’s most unstable democracies, with frequent military interventions in politics.
Ferreira’s detention, amid ongoing political turmoil, is likely to further deepen tensions and fuel fears of instability in the fragile nation.
