22 Oct 2018 | 12:43 PM UTC
Guinea-Bissau: Opposition protest in Bissau October 21
Thousands protest in Bissau on October 21 to denounce lack of transparency in electoral registration; further protests likely
Event
Thousands of people protested in the capital Bissau on Sunday, October 21, to denounce a lack of transparency and irregularities in the electoral registration ahead of the November 18 legislative elections. The demonstration passed off peacefully. Further associated protests are possible in the coming days.
Context
Guinea-Bissau has experienced a period of political uncertainty since August 2015, when President José Mario Vaz dismissed Prime Minister Domingos Simoes Pereira, leader of the president's own African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC). Vaz and his government have since suffered increasing unpopularity.
On April 16, 2018, the president appointed a new prime minister, Aristides Gomes (the seventh since August 2015), who formed a consensus government on April 26 to organize the upcoming parliamentary elections.
Advice
Individuals in Guinea-Bissau, particularly Bissau, are advised to monitor the situation, avoid all demonstrations and protests due to the risk of violence, and adhere to any instructions issued by the local authorities.
