Political tensions are rising within Guinea-Bissau’s PAIGC, the country’s historic ruling party, following the announcement of two separate congresses to elect its next leadership.
The PAIGC, which has played a central role in Guinea-Bissau’s independence and post-independence politics, has been the country’s dominant party for decades, although it currently faces stiff opposition from emerging political groups.
The party’s standing committee has proposed holding a Central Committee meeting between June and July, while a so-called “reflection group” has scheduled its own congress for May, deepening internal divisions.
At the centre of the dispute is the current party leader, Domingos Simões Pereira, who has been under house arrest since the military coup of November 2025. Analysts warn that the leadership struggle could weaken the PAIGC’s influence ahead of future elections and further polarise political factions.
José Santos Nuno Mustas, a political analyst in Guinea-Bissau, says the situation shows both the fragility of party unity and the ongoing challenges in consolidating democracy in the country.
–ChannelAfrica–
