The early hours of April 12 saw chaos erupt at the home of Bubacar Turé, a notable human rights advocate and president of the Guinean League for Human Rights (LGDH). Unidentified police officers, at least six in number, breached his residence in Bissau without a warrant, instilling fear among his family, including minors. While Turé himself was away, the uncertainty surrounding his whereabouts has raised alarms about possible kidnapping or torture.
The LGDH vehemently condemned this raid, perceiving it as an evident part of President Umaro Sissoco Embaló’s broader campaign to suppress dissent. The organisation cited ongoing harassment towards activists and journalists, noting how Turé had received death threats in 2022 after confronting an attempted coup, during which armed assailants targeted him and other League leaders.
Elected as president of the LGDH in December 2023 after serving as vice president for 16 years, Turé has diligently fought for the rule of law and democracy. He has taken a stand against severe human rights violations, including human trafficking, the misuse of force by security forces, and constraints on free expression, as highlighted in a publication from March 2.
As international human rights groups clamour for his release and ensure his protection, social media discussions label his situation a “political kidnapping”, though these claims remain unverified. The silence from Guinea-Bissau authorities only heightens the prevailing concerns, laying bare a politically fragile landscape marked by the persecution of dissenters.
Amidst the chaos, the exact state of Turé—with possibilities of him being in hiding, detained, or worse—is still ambiguous. The global community’s calls for transparency underscore the truth that defenders of human rights face increasingly perilous challenges in an environment where authoritarianism is on the rise.
Bubacar Turé, a prominent human rights leader in Guinea-Bissau, went missing after police raided his home without a warrant on April 12. The incident has drawn condemnation from the Guinean League for Human Rights (LGDH), who believe it reflects a campaign to silence dissent under President Umaro Sissoco Embaló. International organisations demand his release as fears grow about his safety amidst a climate of rising authoritarianism.
The disturbing events surrounding the disappearance of Bubacar Turé highlight the escalating repression of human rights advocates in Guinea-Bissau. The assault on Turé’s home signifies a larger pattern of intimidation orchestrated by the current regime, revealing the grave risks journalists and activists confront. Amid international calls for his safety and transparency, the uncertainty continues to envelop his fate, emblematic of the perilous landscape for human rights defenders in authoritarian contexts.
Original Source: www.pressenza.com
