DAKAR — Domingos Simoes Pereira, a prominent opposition figure and former Prime Minister of Guinea-Bissau, was returned to prison last Friday after the West African nation’s military court ordered his re-incarceration, according to statements from his family to Reuters.
The junta that took control of Guinea-Bissau through a coup last year had previously released Pereira — who leads the revolutionary PAIGC party — back in February. That release was seen as an effort to ease tensions with ECOWAS, the West African regional bloc.
Following his release, Pereira had remained under house arrest while facing suspicion of economic crimes.
In a written statement sent to Reuters via email, Pereira’s family said military authorities are now accusing him of having a role in an alleged coup attempt that occurred in October 2025. The family firmly pushed back against those accusations, stating that Pereira had not been “engaged in violent or unconstitutional acts.”
Pereira was first detained on November 26, when a group of army officers seized control of the government just before presidential election results were set to be announced.
His family reported that no court date has been scheduled and expressed serious worry about his physical wellbeing and personal safety while in custody.
When asked about the situation, a government spokesperson directed all questions regarding Pereira’s case to the military court, which was not available for comment.
Following the coup, Guinea-Bissau’s electoral commission announced it was unable to finish counting last year’s election results. A new election has since been scheduled for December 6.
