A LUTA CONTINUA IN GUINEA BISSAU

On this day in 1963, one of Africa's most illustrious revolutionary organisations, the PAIGC - that is, the African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde - launched its armed struggle against the Portuguese colonial forces in the two countries.

The organisation was formed in 1956 by anti-colonial revolutionaries such as Pan-African theorist and intellectual Amílcar Cabral. In its early years, the organisation attempted to pursue independence using dialogue and peaceful protests. However, like other African liberation movements, the PAIGC soon found out that the oppressive colonial system could not be dismantled through pacifist resistance.

The next eleven years would be brutal as the Portuguese did everything to crush the independence movement. However, no amount of repression can stop a determined people. On 10 September 1974, the PAIGC's dream of an independent nation became a reality as Guinea-Bissau was finally recognised as a fully independent sovereign nation.

The party led the nation until early 2000 when it lost that year's presidential elections. It bounced back in 2005 and remained in power until 2020, when it lost control in a vote that's widely thought to have been rigged in favour of Western-backed Umaro Sissoco Embaló.

Embaló has strengthened Guinea-Bissau's relationship with France and with former coloniser Portugal since assuming the presidency.

Despite losing state power, the sun has not set on the PAIGC. Today, many in Guinea-Bissau are working hard to ensure the party regains power and are trying to live up to the values and teachings of Amílcar Cabral.

These efforts are already bearing fruit. In 2023, the PAI-Terra Ranka coalition, led by the PAIGC, won the country's legislative elections. Parliament was, however, dissolved in December of that year by Embaló over an alleged coup attempt. He promised to hold fresh legislative elections in November 2024, but he later postponed them.

He also postponed the presidential election that was set to be held in December 2024. Is someone afraid of facing the PAIGC at the ballot?

Sources:

https://www.africanews.com/2023/08/10/niger-the-future-of-ecowas-at-stake-according-to-the-president-of-guinea-bissau/

https://observador.pt/2024/06/10/presidente-da-guine-bissau-condecora-consul-portugues/

https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/guine-bissau/umaro-sissoco-embalo/presidente-da-guine-bissau-em-visita-a-portugal-ate-quarta-feira/20231023/65361364d34e371fc0b8fea7

https://www.voaafrica.com/a/macron-wraps-up-africa-tour-in-guinea-bissau/6677668.html

https://hoodcommunist.org/2023/12/14/peoples-democracy-in-guinea-bissau/