The human rights situation in Guinea-Bissau deteriorated “across the board” between 2023 and 2024, according to Bubacar Turé, president of the Guinean Human Rights League.
Turé made the remarks during the public presentation of a report on human rights in the country, held at the closing of the international conference “Dialogue for a Future with Justice, Human Rights and Democracy in West Africa.” The event was organized in partnership with ACEP and brought together civil society organizations from Guinea-Bissau and other West African nations.
The conference took place at the Casa dos Direitos in Bissau and was funded by Portuguese cooperation under a project titled “Human Rights at Risk in Guinea-Bissau.”
According to Turé, the report reveals a “deeply concerning reality,” where fundamental rights have “ceased to be guarantees and have become uncertainties.” He identified political instability—affecting the separation of powers—as a key factor behind the deterioration.
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During the period analyzed, the country experienced arbitrary arrests, beatings, kidnappings, torture, ill-treatment in detention, and restrictions on freedom of expression.
“These practices are incompatible with the principles of the rule of law and cannot be tolerated,” Turé stressed.
He warned that Guinea-Bissau “cannot continue to be a place of fear,” noting that constraints on the judicial system undermine its credibility and independence. He also highlighted growing impunity, partly due to limited access to local courts, disproportionately affecting vulnerable groups such as women and people with disabilities.
The report further pointed to severe social challenges, including maternal deaths during childbirth and health centers operating without proper diagnostic conditions or adequate care. Access to clean water and electricity remains “a luxury” for much of the population.
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Turé emphasized the crucial role of civil society organizations in defending citizens’ rights and noted a significant gap between the government’s commitments under the United Nations Universal Periodic Review and the implementation of the 224 recommendations issued in April 2025.
