Photos by Frits Eisenloeffel
Journalist Frits Eisenloeffel travelled through Guinea-Bissau in August 1974 to document the transfer of power from the Portuguese to the PAIGC (Partido Africano da Independência de Guiné e Cabo Verde). He captured the moment in the garrison town of Polibaque City, where among the assembled Portuguese and PAIGC troops the Portuguese flag was lowered in favor of the PAIGC flag. This was only one of the many transfers before the Portuguese completely left the country.
The photos show the preparations for and execution of the evacuation of the Portuguese troops with scenes of abandoned armory and army bases, relieved Portuguese soldiers, commander Naudinga (PAIGC) and Portuguese major Antonio Rebelo Simoes, the actual withdrawal of the troops watched by journalists, a crowd meeting in the soccer stadium to show their support for the PAIGC, pro-liberation movement slogans on a wall in Bissau and finally the shipping off to Portugal.
This is part of an photo exhibition from the Frits Eisenloeffel collection.
