West African bloc calls for Guinea-Bissau opposition leader's release

DAKAR, July 21 (Reuters) - ‌The West ​African ​bloc ECOWAS urged Guinea-Bissau's military-led government to unconditionally release all detained political figures, including opposition ‌leader Domingos Simoes Pereira, at the conclusion ⁠of a summit meeting of heads of state in Sierra ‌Leone, a statement said.

• The ‌release of all political prisoners could "bolster the credibility of the transition process," ECOWAS said in a ​statement released late on Monday. Guinea-Bissau's leaders took power in a coup last November and adopted ⁠a one-year transitional charter the following month.

• Pereira, a former prime minister ​and the leader of the revolutionary PAIGC party, was ordered back to prison on ​July 10, his family told ‌Reuters last week. He was previously detained on the day of the coup last ⁠year but then moved to house arrest in February, in an apparent attempt to appease ECOWAS. Pereira has been ⁠accused of economic crimes and involvement in an alleged coup ​attempt in October 2025, which he denies.

• The West African country will hold a constitutional referendum on August 30, followed ‌by general elections on December 6, 2026, according to the ECOWAS statement.

• Guinea-Bissau's government ‌has not formally announced the election dates.

• A ⁠government spokesperson did not ‌immediately respond to ​a question about Pereira on Tuesday.

(Reporting by Ayen Deng Bior; Editing by Robbie Corey-Boulet, Aidan ‌Lewis)

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