Bissau: Clash between the police and supporters of the former regime

Bissau: Clash between the police and supporters of the former regime

#Other Countries On Friday evening in Bissau, the police and the supporters of the former ruling party started preparing for the Congress.

According to the same source, at least seven people were injured in these clashes that took place at the headquarters of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC, former regime), in front of the presidential palace, in the center of Bissau. ,

Police used tear gas canisters and truncheons to disperse PAIGC militants, a historic formation that led to the independence of Guinea-Bissau, a former Portuguese colony, in 1974.

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The PAIGC had planned to hold a Congress from Saturday to Tuesday, but the meeting was not accepted by a section of the party led by Bolom Conte.

The latter took legal action in February to challenge the authority of former prime minister and party leader Domingos Simoes Pereira, since 2013, to hold this congress, which, according to him, had already exhausted his “mandate on training chief”. Gaya” argued. ,

After Mr. Conte’s referral, a judge of the Regional Court of Bissau banned the Congress from holding. He appealed to the police to implement the decision on Friday evening, which was rejected by the current PAIGC leadership and activists.

>>> ALSO READ: Guinea Bissau: Ex-Prime Minister Banned From Leaving Country

“We condemn the incidents of this evening. Security forces barged into the headquarters (of the PAIGC) where the party’s central committee meeting was taking place,” party spokesman Joo Bernardo told AFP.

“Judicial authorities require the PAIGC to respect the decision of the Regional Court of Bissau” following the action brought by Mr. Conte, Mr. Vieira said.

The PAIGC, whose leader, Domingos Simoes Pereira, lost the presidential race in 2019, is still contesting President Umaro Sissoko Embalo.

Mr Perera was also banned from leaving the country in late February as part of an investigation into an alleged coup attempt in 2021.

Guinea-Bissau, a small country of about two million residents, is plagued by chronic political and military instability.

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