The political landscape of Guinea-Bissau is in mourning and shock. Vigário Luís Balanta , a leading figure in the protests against the military transition and president of the Pó di Terra movement, was found dead on the outskirts of Bissau. The circumstances of his death point to a targeted political assassination.

A macabre discovery

The body of the 35-year-old activist was found on Tuesday near the rice paddies of N'Dam , about 30 km from the capital. According to reports from local radio stations and images circulating on social media, the victim was beaten to death . The photos show a man with bloodied and torn clothes, bearing serious injuries, attesting to the violence of the attack.

A tireless opponent of the junta

Since last November's coup against Umaro Sissoco Embaló, Luís Balanta had established himself as a fierce critic of General Horta N'Tam , the current head of the transition. His demands were clear:

1. Immediate release of political prisoners.
2. The ban on demonstrations has been lifted .
3. Electoral transparency , claiming that the presidential election results gave the victory to the opposition candidate Fernando Dias.

Having already been a victim of kidnappings in the past and regularly targeted by death threats, he had chosen not to remain silent, publishing a final protest video the day before his disappearance.

Immediate media censorship

In an atmosphere of extreme tension, the announcement of this death was followed by an immediate reaction from the authorities. Under the pretext of "license violations," the transitional government ordered the suspension of private radio stations for an initial period of seven days.

This measure, perceived as an attempt to stifle public outrage, could be extended at the discretion of the authorities.

Contextual note: Vigário Luís Balanta had recently used RFI's airwaves to alert the international community to the authoritarian drift of the current regime. His death marks a dark turning point for freedom of expression in Guinea-Bissau.