In a bold and strongly worded statement signed by the WABA Secretary General Adesina Adegbite, on April 13, 2025, the umbrella body of all Bar Associations in the West African region Demands Urgent Action Over Systemic Abuses in Guinea-Bissau,. The press release, which was disseminated in English, French, and Portuguese to ensure wide accessibility across the region, documents a disturbing pattern of oppression allegedly orchestrated by the country’s leadership.
WABA’s statement highlights targeted attacks on the judiciary, the legal profession, and opposition voices, with specific concern over the persecution of lawyers, the forced eviction of the Bar Association from its headquarters, and threats to its President, Januário Pedro Correia. The Association calls for immediate international intervention, including from ECOWAS, the African Union, and the United Nations.
The full press release follows below:
WABA-Press-Statement-Guinea-Bissau1 WABA-Press-Release-French1 WABA-Press-Release-Portuguese-Version-1-Copy
