The regime of President Umaro Sissoco Embaló has been criticized for systematically violating the principle of press freedom, considered essential for any democracy and necessary for an informed society and accountable governance.
The IL party claims Embaló’s tenure is characterized by political persecution, intimidation, and violence against journalists, judicial manipulation, and repression of political or social opposition, exemplified by the recent assault on Waldir Araújo, a journalist and RTP delegate in Guinea-Bissau.
The party describes this event as part of an ongoing pattern of open hostility towards independent media.
Embaló’s presidency of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) should have been an opportunity to strengthen the values of democracy, freedom, and cooperation among member states, according to IL. Instead, it is claimed he uses it as a platform for international legitimacy while aligning with regimes such as Equatorial Guinea and strengthening ties with Russia.
The IL argues that the National Assembly cannot remain indifferent to this direct attack on press freedom and proposes a vote of vigorous condemnation of the expulsion of Portuguese public media delegations and suspension of their broadcasts.
Furthermore, IL calls on the National Assembly to denounce the repeated pattern of insults, intimidation, and violence against journalists by President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and Guinea-Bissau authorities, labeling it incompatible with democratic values and CPLP membership status.
The IL’s proposal also demands the immediate revocation of the decision to expel Portuguese media and full respect for freedom of the press and expression in Guinea-Bissau.
The proposed vote in the National Assembly should also urge CPLP and UN to adopt concrete measures against those responsible for these severe and systematic violations of fundamental rights.
Finally, IL reaffirms that the CPLP presidency must adhere strictly to the organization’s founding principles and should not legitimize regimes that disregard them.
Guinea-Bissau currently holds the CPLP presidency, assumed on July 18 during the organization’s summit in the Guinean capital.
The Guinea-Bissau government decided to expel Lusa, RTP, and RDP delegations, suspend their broadcasts immediately, and ordered their representatives to leave the country by Tuesday.
No reasons were provided for this decision.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the expulsion, calling it “highly objectionable and unjustifiable,” and intends to seek explanations from the Guinean government.
