Guinea-Bissau's main opposition leader, released from prison at the end of January and placed under house arrest since then, was summoned before a military tribunal on February 13, suspected of being involved in several coup attempts, AFP learned Sunday from judicial and military sources.

Guinea-Bissau has been ruled since November 26 - the day before the expected announcement of the provisional results of the presidential and legislative elections - by military officers who overthrew outgoing President Umaro Sissoco Embalo and suspended the electoral process.

Domingos Simoes Pereira, leader of the PAIGC, the historic party that led the country to independence in 1974 and is now in opposition, was taken prisoner on the day of the coup that brought General Horta N'Tam to power.

He was released on January 31, as were the other opponents arrested on the day of the coup, but placed under house arrest because he is being prosecuted for alleged economic crimes.

"Domingos Simoes Pereira will be heard on February 13 in a military tribunal for his alleged involvement in an attempted coup," a source close to the military tribunal told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity for his safety.

"There are many suspicions surrounding his alleged involvement in several subversive actions," added a senior staff officer contacted by AFP.

According to the same source, Mr. Pereira is suspected of being involved in at least two attempted coups in late 2023 and October 2025.

On October 31, the Guinea-Bissau army announced that it had thwarted an "attempt to subvert the constitutional order" and arrested several senior officers, just hours before the start of the campaign for the general elections on November 23.

Military personnel arrested during what authorities described as an attempted coup in December 2023 have accused Mr. Pereira of funding them, according to the staff officer.

Guinea-Bissau, a Portuguese-speaking coastal country in West Africa located between Senegal and Guinea (Conakry), had, before the coup of November 26, already experienced four coups and a host of attempted coups since its independence from Portugal.

Mr. Pereira was barred from the presidential race for submitting his candidacy too late. He then supported Fernando Dias, the main opponent of President Embalo in the November 23 presidential election, who claimed victory.