The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) is deeply concerned about recent threatening remarks made by Guinea-Bissau’s Secretary of State for Public Order during a recent press conference in Bissau.
José Carlos Macedo Monteiro warned during a press conference on February 25, 2025 that the government was taking strong stance against perceived destabilisation which he linked to public protests.
“From this moment on, there will be zero tolerance for any citizen attempting to destabilise the country. We will respond in kind to any attempt at disruption. Those who, through press conferences, encourage the population to take to the streets will be treated accordingly, as they are instigating ordinary citizens to violate public order,” Monteiro stated, in a speech made on behalf of Minister of the Interior and Public Order, Botche Candé.
He further warned that “there will be no exceptions, the law will be applied to everyone, without distinction,” explicitly cautioning journalists against disrupting public order. The Secretary also criticised civil society organisations (CSOs), including the Guinea-Bissau Human Rights League (LGDH), for what he termed as their “silence” amid alleged instigations of disorder.
Additionally, Monteiro urged parents to discourage their children from participating in demonstrations, stating, “when we take action, it is these same parents who plead for their children’s release.”
The state official proceeded to state the government’s resolve to get the security forces to strictly enforce public order.
The speech by Monteiro demonstrates intense intolerance of dissent, especially that expressed through protests, thus raising critical concerns about fundamental rights and freedoms. Ordinarily, there should be no issue with a senior government official warning that the security agencies will strictly enforce public order during demonstrations. However, in this context where he has already criminalised demonstrations as an attempt to cause destabilisation and undermine public order, this warning is ominous. A reference to security agents’ intervention causes even more apprehension, given recent brutal crackdowns on anti-government demonstrations in the country.
For instance, on November 20, 2024, police violently cracked down on a peaceful vigil organised by students from the Escola Superior da Educação (ESE) in front of the Ministry of Education. The students were protesting against delayed publications of school results, higher tuition fees and poor teaching conditions. Police officers arrested at least six students and assaulted two journalists, namely Carabulai Cassamá, a reporter for Rádio Capital FM, and Turé da Silva, a journalist from Rádio Sol Mansi. The police also seized the journalists’ phones, cameras and recording devices.
Similarly, on May 18, 2024, in response to a peaceful protest organised by the Popular Front, Guinea-Bissau’s security forces launched a brutal crackdown, arresting over 90 people, including activists, journalists, and political figures. Many detainees were taken to undisclosed locations, heightening concerns over human rights abuses. The demonstration, aimed at denouncing hunger, violence, and democratic backsliding, had been banned by the Ministry of the Interior, citing security concerns, despite criticism that the ban violated constitutional rights.
The government’s stark warning on February 25, 2025, comes amid heightened political uncertainty in the country. Debates about the end of President Umaro Sissoco Embaló’s mandate have led to increased political tension.
The MFWA acknowledges the government’s responsibility to maintain public order and ensure the safety of all citizens. However, it is important to ensure that measures to maintain peace do not end up escalating tensions and undermining fundamental human rights, including the right to peaceful assembly as guaranteed under Articles 34, 51 and 56 of Guinea Bissau’s Constitution.
Also, given Guinea-Bissau’s delicate political context, it is crucial that the government adopt a conciliatory posture and demonstrate tolerance and bridgebuilding.
We urge the authorities to engage all political stakeholders in dialogue to reach a consensus on how to overcome the current political impasse.
The media and civil society organisations serve as a bridge between the government and the public, providing essential information and facilitating informed discourse. Therefore, we call on the government to guarantee an enabling and safe space in which the two institutions can operate without undue restrictions.
