European Union | Election Observation Mission Guinea-Bissau 2005

European Union Election Observation Mission
Guinea-Bissau 2005

Second Round - Candidates Profiles

João Bernardo “Nino” Vieira (Independent)

João Bernardo “Nino” Vieira was born 27 April 1939.

Nino Vieira was President of Guinea-Bissau from 1980-1999.

In 1999 after the end of the civil conflict Nino Vieira was granted political asylum by the Portuguese government and has return to his home country on 7 April.

In 1960 he joined the PAIGC and stayed with Amílcar Cabral in Guinea-Conakry. From 1961 to 1970, he was in the liberation troops in the South region becoming commander of the South Front from 1964.

He was elected first president of the Popular National Assembly at the self-proclaimed independence on 24 September 1973 at the Colinas de Boé in the Eastern part of the country.

He was nominated Principal Commissioner (i.e. Prime Minister) in the People’s Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARP) in 1978 under Luis Cabral, Guinea-Bissau first President.

From 1980-1999 he was president of the PAIGC.

He took power in power in 1980 after the Movimento Reajustador de 14 de Novembro. In 1994 he was elected President in the first presidential election of the country.

His political program focuses on the national reconciliation process and place Nino as a figure of national unity.

Malam Bacai Sanhá

Partido Africano da Independência da Guiné e Cabo Verde – African party for the independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC)

Malam Bacai Sanhá is the official candidate of the PAIGC. He was born on 5 May 1947 in the Quinara region (Dar Salam).

Like many other PAIGC members he studied in the former soviet area of influence in the RDA where he took a degree of Political Science from the Karl Marx Superior School. He successively held positions in the Party and in the Public administration namely as Member of the Politic Bureau (1975-76), Governor of Gabú (1986-90), President of the Worker’s Union (UNTG) from 1991-92, Minister of information (1992-94) and simultaneously Minister of the region of the East (1989-94), Minister of the Administrative Reform and Labour (1994-98), President of the Popular National Assembly (ANP) in 1999 and Interim President (May 1999- February 2000).

He presented himself as presidential candidate in the previous presidential election of 1999-2000 where he was defeated in the run-off by Koumba Yalá.

First Round - Candidates Profiles

Aregado Manteque (PT)

(Workers Party - Partido dos Trabalhadores)

Aregado Manteque presents him as son of “humble peasants” born in Cacheu Region.

Holds a law degree from Universidade Moderna in Lisbon.

1978 when he was responsible in Gambia for the Youth Department of the FLING (Frente de Libertação Nacional da Guiné).

FLING representative in Portugal until 2003.

2003 founder with some students Lisbon of the Workers Party (PT)

Mário “Maruca” Lopes da Rosa (Independent)

Mário “Maruca” Lopes da Rosa is a senior diplomat. who has a 28 years diplomatic carrier serving in several European countries (Portugal, France, Luxemburg, Holand, Switzerland), The United States, Algeria and International Organizations (UN and European Union).

João Bernardo “Nino” Vieira (Independent)

1961-1970: he was in the liberation troops in the South region becoming commander of the South Front from 1964.

1973: Elected first president of the Popular National Assembly and proclames independence on 24 September 1973.

1980-1999: President of Guinea Bissau

1999-2005: Political asylum in Portugal Nino Vieira was sent in exile to Portugal.

April 2005: Returns to Guinea Bissau from Political exile

Adelino Mano Queta (Independent)

Adelino Mano Queta is another senior diplomat who has a large diplomatic carrier as ambassador (Portugal [1999-2000], Morroco, Italy, Spain, Taiwan [1997-98], UN…), leadership functions in the CPLP and CEDEAO.

1985: General Attorney (1985).

He is currently diplomatic counselor to President Henrique Rosa and a lecturer in the Faculty of Law in Bissau.

Idrissa Djaló (PUN)

[Partido da Unidade Nacional – Party of National Unity]

Founder of the PUN

Faustino Fudut Imbali (Manifesto do Povo)

[Manidesto do Povo – People’s Manifesto]

1999-2000: PUSD Presidential candidate.

Former Prime Minister .

Koumba Yalá (PRS)

[Partido da Renovação Social – Party of the Social Renovation]

He studied Political Science in the former RDA and has a Philosophy degree from Portugal.

1994: Presidential candidate

2000: Elected President in the run-off against Malam Bacai Sanhá

2003: ousted from power by a military junta

João Tatis Sá (PPG)

[Partido Popular Guineense – Guinean Popular Party]

João Tatis Sá is a doctor.

1999-2000: Presidential candidate

Empossa Ié “Paulino” (Independent)

Business resident in Italy

He was elected the first African town councellor for the Municipal townhall of Arzignano ( Veneto) in Italy.

1999 he was the promoter of the Candidacy of João Tatis Sá to the presidential election and the candidate representative in the CNE.

2000-2004 he was co-founder of the PPG.

2004 was elected president of the PPG.

Francisco José Fadul (PUSD)

[Partido Unido Social Democrata – United Social Democrat Party]

1999-2000: Prime Minister in the Government of National Union (Transitional Government) after the civil war of 1998-99.

Holds a law degree form the Lusófona University in Lisbon when he is a visiting professor.

President of the PUSD

Member of the UNESCO International committee for peace.

Malam Bacai Sanhá (PAIGC)

[Partido Africano da Independência da Guiné e Cabo Verde – African party for the independence of Guinea and Cape Verde]

Studied in the former RDA where he took a degree of Political Science.

He successively hold positions in the Party and in the administration namely as provincial governor, leader of the party, president of the Worker’s Union (UNTG), Minister of information, President of the National Assembly (ANP), interim president (1999-2000).

Presidential candidate in the previous presidential election of 1999-2000.

Mamadú Iaia Djaló (Independent)

Iaia DJALÓ independent candidate.

Former Vice-President of the PRS

Minister of Foreign Affairs (2000-2001)

Antonieta Rosa Gomes (Fórum Cívico Guineense)

(Civic Forum – Social Democracy – Fórum Cívico Guineense – Social Democracia)

Antonieta Rosa Gomes is the only woman contesting the election as it was the case in last 2000 presidential election. She is from the FCG-SD.

In 1991 she founded the party with a group of students in Brazil after legalized in 1994.

Professor at the Faculty of Law in Bissau (1995-1997)

Minister of Justice (2000- January 2001) and then Minister for Foreign Affairs (2001).

She has been engaged in the promotion and defense of social issues such as children rights.