Accused of complicity in several attempts at destabilization, the opposition leader firmly rejects the accusations against him.

A highly charged court appearance

Last Friday, Domingos Simões Pereira appeared before the military court in Bissau. He is being questioned about his alleged involvement in two attempted coups: one in late 2023 and the more recent one in October 2025.

In his defense, this hearing is an opportunity to clear his name. His spokesperson, Mario Lino Pereira da Veiga, was clear:

"He came forward to answer the accusations directly. All doubts surrounding this situation must be definitively dispelled."

A legal and political imbroglio

The opposition figure's recent history is marked by a series of legal twists and turns:

1. November 2025: Arrest during a coup led by ex-president Sissoco Embaló, in the middle of the election count.
2. January 2026: Release from prison.
3. Current situation: Although free to move about his military case, he remains under house arrest for a separate investigation into financial crimes.

This restriction of liberty has left his lawyers baffled. The military court has stated that it was in no way responsible for this house arrest, leaving the question of who ordered the measure unclear.

The refusal to cooperate with the regime

This hearing takes place in a climate of widespread mistrust. A few weeks ago, the ruling power had offered Domingos Simões Pereira and Fernando Dias positions in the government and seats on the National Transitional Council (10 seats were reserved for them).

The two leading figures of the opposition categorically rejected the offer, describing it as a mere "maneuver" intended to provide a façade of legitimacy for the military regime.