Hundreds of protesters took to the streets in Guinea-Bissau following the killing of prominent activist Vigário Luís Balanta, as anger grows over what many describe as a politically motivated assassination. Balanta’s body was discovered on Tuesday, March 31. His body was found abandoned on the outskirts of Bolanhas de N’Dam, approximately 30 kilometers from the capital, Bissau.
Demonstrations broke out after Balanta’s funeral, with mourners marching through the capital before being dispersed by police using tear gas and batons. Protesters burned tyres, blocked roads, and brought parts of the city to a standstill as they demanded justice and accountability. Images circulating online showed his body bearing injuries consistent with torture, sparking outrage across the country.
For many demonstrators, the killing was deliberate. “He was assassinated by the regime because he was fighting for the truth,” said protester Ivanildo Gomes. “They persecuted him until the day they caught him and killed him.”
Others emphasized that the protests were peaceful but driven by a demand for justice. “Vigário was killed… it is clear to everyone,” said Nielson Antonio Mache. “We are peacefully protesting simply to ask for justice.”
Balanta, president of the Pó di Terra Revolutionary Movement, was widely known for his political organizing and outspoken criticism of the government. His death has intensified concerns over a deteriorating political situation in Guinea-Bissau, which has faced instability following a disputed electoral process and what critics describe as a coup aimed at keeping Umaro Sissoco Embaló in power.
Political groups, including the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), condemned the killing as a “barbaric and cowardly act,” warning that it reflects a broader pattern of repression targeting dissenting voices.
Analysts and activists say the incident is part of a wider crackdown on opposition and activists. Don Kyller Jano, a youth organizer and member of the All-African People’s Revolutionary Party, described the situation as a “spiral of degradation of the rule of law,” marked by intimidation, surveillance, and increasing violence.
“This act… is a deliberate message of terror directed at all those who dare to organize,” Jano said, linking Balanta’s killing to a broader effort to silence political opposition.
Recent months have seen reports of arbitrary detentions, disappearances, and attacks on activists, with bodies reportedly being found in areas outside the capital. These developments have raised alarm about shrinking civic space and the normalization of political violence.
The United Nations has condemned the killing as “brutal” and called for a full investigation, warning of the growing risks faced by activists in the country.
Despite the repression, activists say the killing has strengthened calls for unity and resistance. At a vigil held days after his death, supporters described Balanta as a symbol of struggle and pledged to continue his work.
“The struggle does not stop here,” one comrade said. “He is with us… through the vision he had.”
