Guinea-Bissau has released opposition leader Domingos Simões Pereira following nearly two months in detention. The former Prime Minister was among several political figures arrested during the November 2025 coup that disrupted the nation’s democratic trajectory.
His freedom came January 30, 2026, after intensive mediation by an ECOWAS delegation led by Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio and Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. The diplomatic intervention underscored regional commitment to restoring political dialogue in the fragile West African state.
Hours before Pereira’s release, Senegal’s Minister of Defence arrived in Bissau, signaling coordinated regional pressure to de-escalate tensions. The timing suggests sustained behind-the-scenes engagement between neighboring capitals to stabilize Guinea-Bissau’s political landscape.
Sources indicate additional detained opposition figures may soon regain their liberty. Pereira’s release marks a tentative step toward easing political repression and rebuilding trust between Guinea-Bissau’s military authorities and civilian political actors.
