In late March, residents found a lifeless body in a remote, marshy area about 30 kilometers (19 mi) outside Guinea-Bissau’s capital, Bissau.
“It was covered in blood,” a witness told news agency AFP, “with stab wounds all over the body” and “with two bullet holes in the head.”
The victim was Vigario Luis Balanta, a 35-year-old teacher and a prominent critic of Guinea-Bissau’s military leadership, which seized power four months ago by ousting outgoing President Oumar Sissoko Embalou in a coup.
Balanta was a leading figure in the civil society movement Po di Terra (Dust of the Earth) who, according to Radio France Internationale (RFI), was reported missing before being released.
He was abducted in the Pilun district of Bissau in late March. His body was recovered two days later. The United Nations called it a “brutal murder”.
In Balanta’s last public interview with DW in January, he remained defiant.
“We will keep moving forward,” he said. “We have to act strategically and organize people.”
He described Po di Terra as a movement based on love for the country and the determination to protect it.
“Despite fear among the population, support is strong,” Balanta told DW.
Accusations against forces related to the army
Civil society groups, including Po di Terra and the Bissau-Guinea League of Human Rights, have accused the transitional military regime – or forces aligned with it – of plotting Balanta’s assassination.
UN Office for Human Rights (OHCHR) spokesperson Seph Magango said in a statement Balanta’s death comes amid “the progressive reduction of civic and democratic space, which has intensified in Guinea-Bissau since the November 2025 coup.”
“Opposition members and human rights defenders were arbitrarily detained, attacked, harassed and intimidated, demonstrations were dispersed and radio stations were suspended,” Magango said.
Activist Sumaila Jallow called the killing a warning to all those who oppose the regime.
“We are scared, but we will not remain silent. The fight for justice continues,” he told DW.
The military government condemned the killing, calling it a crime “under particularly violent circumstances” and promised a thorough investigation, holding both the perpetrators and their possible supporters accountable. Pratigya has faced skepticism from critics.
Funeral protests highlight growing public anger
Balanta’s funeral in early April became a protest against the military rulers. Hundreds of people gathered at the Antula cemetery in Bissau and chanted slogans: “We are all vicarios,” “We want justice,” and “Down with the dictatorship.”
Guinean expatriates also organized solidarity demonstrations elsewhere, including in the Portuguese capital Lisbon, demanding accountability.
Political tensions have risen after the government ordered the closure of private radio stations in Bissau, citing unpaid license fees of 5 million CFA francs (about $9,000). While broadcasts resumed after talks with the Prime Minister, negotiations continue, making the situation of press freedom uncertain.
At the same time, residents report severe fuel shortages, with long lines outside gas stations. The government denies that there is any shortage. The prime minister has publicly warned against “misinformation” and observers say some citizens who have reported shortages have faced intimidation. Tension continues in Bissau.
The military, led by General Horta N’Tam, has announced plans to hold presidential and legislative elections in December and return to civilian rule.
Former President Embalo, whose current whereabouts are unknown, has been accused by opposition figures and observers of plotting a coup to avoid losing the election and leaving office.
Guinean economist and diplomat Carlos Lopes said several scenarios were possible, including that Emballo might have initiated the coup himself, but that he now has less control over the junta than he expected.
Such dynamics are not unusual: “Revolutions often swallow their own children – especially in Guinea-Bissau,” Lopes said.
This article is taken from German.