""Zero tolerance in the fight against corruption and drug trafficking is our top priority," declared Guinea-Bissau's Interim President General Horta Inta-A upon taking office following a military coup that suspended the constitutional order in Guinea-Bissau. But speaking out about drug crime is still dangerous, and while reporting this story, DW encountered a wall of silence. Those willing to speak often anonymously painted a picture where political and military actors are barely distinguishable from the criminal structures they claim to fight."
"Guinea-Bissau has long been considered one of the largest transit zones for cocaine on the drug's way from South America to Europe. But the problem has intensified in recent years. Even before the coup, it was noticeable how lavishly the various candidates in the country's parliamentary and presidential elections on November 23 ran their campaigns. In the capital Bissau, political factions drove convoys of expensive SUVs, professionally produced videos ran on LED screens, and rallies were staged with costly sound and light equipment despite most candidates officially claiming to have limited funds."
A military coup installed General Horta Inta-A as interim president and suspended the constitutional order. The interim leadership declared zero tolerance on corruption and drug trafficking. Speaking about drug crime remains dangerous and sources encountered a wall of silence; anonymous accounts portray political and military figures as nearly indistinguishable from criminal networks. Guinea-Bissau has long been a major transit route for cocaine from South America to Europe, and the problem has intensified. The 2025 parliamentary and presidential campaigns featured lavish spending and public displays inconsistent with declared limited funds, suggesting hidden financing tied to drug money. It remains unclear whether the junta will effectively dismantle entrenched trafficking networks.
Read at www.dw.com
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